Skiing icon Lindsey Vonn is facing yet another tough chapter in her recovery, sharing a raw and emotional update ahead of her fifth surgery on her severely fractured left leg—sustained in a devastating crash during the women’s downhill at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
The 41-year-old legend, who made a comeback attempt just nine days after tearing her ACL, crashed hard on February 8 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Airlifted off the course, she was diagnosed with a complex tibia fracture requiring immediate and ongoing interventions. After four surgeries in Italy and finally returning home to the U.S., Vonn posted a nervous pre-op photo on Instagram: her heavily bandaged leg (complete with an external fixator device resembling an “erector set”) propped up, with her computer desktop in the background displaying a touching photo of her beloved late dog, Leo.
The image sparked widespread concern and an outpouring of support, highlighting the double heartbreak Vonn is enduring. In a separate emotional post, she revealed that Leo—her 13-year-old companion who’d been by her side since her second ACL injury—passed away on February 9, just one day after her crash. Leo had battled lymphoma previously and was recently diagnosed with lung cancer; his heart ultimately failed. “The day I crashed, so did Leo,” Vonn wrote tearfully. “I had lost so much that meant something to me in such a short amount of time… He will always be my first love.”
Vonn described the past weeks as “probably the hardest of my life,” admitting she’s still processing the grief while facing more procedures. Heading into Wednesday’s surgery (her first back in the U.S.), she captioned her update with vulnerability: nerves high but hope intact, promising fans she’ll keep sharing as she heals.
From multiple ACL tears in her storied career to this brutal Olympic setback and losing her furry best friend, Vonn’s resilience shines through. Fans are flooding comments with love, prayers, and tributes to Leo—proving her unbreakable spirit inspires even in the darkest moments.
Sending all the strength to Lindsey—recovery ahead, but what a fighter! Who’s rooting for her comeback?
