Lindsey Vonn has delivered her most candid update yet on the catastrophic injuries she suffered during the 2026 Winter Olympics, revealing that five months after her horrific crash, her right ankle remains broken and walking is still a daily struggle.
The 41-year-old skiing legend crashed just 13 seconds into the women’s downhill final in Cortina d’Ampezzo on February 8. She lost control, flipped through the air, and was airlifted from the mountain. The impact left her with a complex tibia fracture, fibular head and tibial plateau fractures in her left leg, a torn ACL, a broken right ankle, and life-threatening compartment syndrome that required emergency surgery to save her leg from possible amputation.
Speaking exclusively at the ESPYs red carpet in New York and later on SportsCenter, Vonn confirmed the long road ahead.
“It’s been a very slow process,” she said. “It’s been five months since I’ve been able to actually go to the gym in a somewhat meaningful way. And walking is actually still really hard for me. My ankle is still broken.”
Vonn noted that her left leg is “healing really nicely,” but she still has no ACL and will need further surgery to remove metal hardware and reconstruct the ligament. Her right ankle, she called “the problem child.”
Medical experts previously described the injury as one of the most severe of her career. Orthopedic specialists involved in her care have emphasized that the combination of multiple fractures, soft-tissue damage, and compartment syndrome made the situation critical in the immediate aftermath. Vonn has undergone at least eight surgeries so far.
Despite the setbacks, the three-time Olympic medalist has shown characteristic determination. She has progressed from a wheelchair to crutches and is now walking (slowly) without them. She has returned to light gym work, attended high-profile events including the Met Gala, and continues to document her recovery publicly.
“I knew one day I’d get here, just didn’t know how long it would take me,” Vonn wrote in a recent social media post reflecting on five months of rehab. “Still a very long road ahead but my strength is coming back.”
For a athlete who has battled injuries throughout her career, this recovery has tested her in new ways. Bones, she noted, heal differently than ligaments, and the pace has forced her to develop a deeper level of patience.
Vonn has not ruled out a return to skiing but has made clear that her immediate priority remains basic mobility and long-term health. Another major surgery is still ahead, meaning a full recovery timeline stretches well into 2027 or beyond.
The update has resonated widely with fans who followed her dramatic comeback attempt at age 41 and the terrifying crash that nearly ended far more than her Olympic hopes.
