In an emotional update that’s left fans heartbroken, skiing legend Lindsey Vonn fought back tears as she opened up about the terrifying crash that nearly ended her career—and her mobility—in the most devastating way.
The 41-year-old five-time Olympian was airlifted off the course in Cortina d’Ampezzo after a brutal fall just 13 seconds into the women’s downhill at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on February 8. What started as a complex tibia fracture quickly escalated into a life-threatening ordeal: compartment syndrome built up dangerous pressure in her leg from swelling and bleeding, putting amputation on the table.
Speaking from her hospital bed and later in updates after discharge, Vonn described the injury as “the most extreme… times a thousand.” Emergency surgery, including a fasciotomy performed by her trusted doctor Tom Hackett, ultimately saved her left leg from amputation. She also revealed additional fractures to her tibial plateau and fibular head, plus a broken right ankle.
Teary-eyed in her reflections shared via social media, Vonn admitted how close she came to a “life-altering nightmare” that could have meant lifelong disability. Despite the pain, multiple surgeries (at least four in Italy alone), and the grueling recovery ahead—including time in a wheelchair—she remains defiant and grateful.
“I was really struggling… pain was out of control,” she shared, crediting a blood transfusion and her medical team for turning the corner. Now out of the hospital and back in the U.S., Vonn insists she has “no regrets” about pushing through a torn ACL (suffered just nine days earlier) to chase her Olympic dream one last time.
“The ride was worth the fall,” she wrote, emphasizing her unbreakable love for the sport.
#TeamUSA #LindseyVonn #Skiing #WinterOlympics #MilanoCortina2026
Vonn’s resilience continues to inspire, proving why she’s one of the greatest alpine skiers in history—even in the face of unimaginable setbacks. Speedy recovery, legend. 🙏🇺🇸
