In a raw and emotional update, 41-year-old skiing icon Lindsey Vonn has shared a striking photo revealing the devastating toll of her horrific crash at the Winter Olympics, including the stark reality of significant muscle loss in her injured leg following multiple surgeries — culminating in her fifth procedure.
The three-time Olympic gold medalist, who made a remarkable comeback attempt despite a pre-existing torn ACL, suffered a severe complex tibia fracture (along with damage to her fibula head and tibial plateau) during the women’s downhill event on February 8. The high-speed crash required emergency airlifting and immediate intervention for compartment syndrome, a condition that threatened amputation of her left leg.
In recent Instagram posts, Vonn credited orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tom Hackett with saving her limb through a critical fasciotomy — essentially opening the leg to relieve pressure — followed by a grueling six-hour reconstruction surgery involving plates, screws, and skin coverage to prevent infection. After weeks in the hospital, including blood transfusions due to significant blood loss, she was finally discharged to continue rehab at home.
Posting a candid image of her bandaged legs resting on an exercise ball, Vonn wrote poignantly: “And just like that … all my muscles are gone 😔.” She described the injury as “the most extreme and painful and challenging” of her career — “times a thousand” — and acknowledged the lengthy path forward.
“It will take around a year for all of the bones to heal,” Vonn shared. “Then I will decide if I want to take out all the metal or not, and then go back into surgery and finally fix my ACL. It will be a long road but I’ll get there.”
Despite the setbacks, Vonn remains optimistic, expressing deep gratitude to her medical team, family, friends, and fans for their support. She’s now shifting focus to rehabilitation, aiming to progress from a wheelchair to crutches in the coming weeks.
Vonn’s resilience has inspired millions throughout her career, and this latest chapter underscores her unbreakable spirit in the face of adversity. The skiing world — and her followers — will be watching closely as she tackles this challenging recovery. 💪❤️
Get well soon, Lindsey — the road may be long, but you’ve conquered tougher slopes before.
