Olympic skiing legend Lindsey Vonn has safely returned to American soil following a devastating crash at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, though the road to recovery remains long and challenging.
The 41-year-old champion, who suffered a complex tibia fracture in her left leg just 13 seconds into the women’s downhill race on February 8 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, confirmed her arrival back in the U.S. on Monday night via a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter).
“Haven’t stood on my feet in over a week… been in a hospital bed immobile since my race. And although I’m not yet able to stand, being back on home soil feels amazing ❤️🇺🇸 #imhome #BeLv,” Vonn wrote. She expressed profound gratitude to the medical team and staff in Italy who cared for her during her extended hospital stay at Ca’ Foncello Hospital in Treviso, where she underwent four surgeries to address the severe injury — which compounded a pre-existing ACL rupture.
Vonn’s return comes after her most recent procedure on Saturday, which she described as successful and cleared her for travel. She had shared emotional updates throughout her hospitalization, including videos of tender moments with family — such as her sisters providing care and comfort — and tributes to the Italian doctors and nurses who helped her through the ordeal.
Her sister, Karin Kildow, told TMZ Sports that Vonn is taking recovery “one day at a time” and remains remarkably strong despite the setbacks. Orthopedic experts, including French knee specialist Dr. Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet, have indicated that it could take months for Vonn to walk normally again, with additional surgeries planned stateside to continue stabilizing the fracture and addressing complications.
The crash — a violent tumble after hooking a gate — marked a heartbreaking end to Vonn’s improbable Olympic comeback. Having retired in 2019 due to knee issues and undergoing a right knee replacement in 2024, she defied odds to compete again, only to face this major setback. Her father, Alan Kildow, previously told the Associated Press that this injury should signal the end of her racing career.
Yet Vonn has maintained an inspiring outlook, emphasizing gratitude for her support system and the simple joys amid pain. In earlier hospital posts, she captioned clips of care with messages like “How lucky I am to have people that care” and reflected on slowly “coming back to life” through smiles, laughter, and love.
As fans worldwide rally behind the 2010 Vancouver downhill gold medalist — with endorsements from figures like Novak Djokovic calling her an inspiration — Vonn’s journey now shifts to intensive rehabilitation in the U.S. Her resilience continues to captivate, proving that even in vulnerability, champions find strength in perseverance and the people around them. 💙
Get well soon, Lindsey — the world is rooting for your full recovery.
