Olympic skiing icon Lindsey Vonn has shared a raw, emotional update following her latest grueling surgery, revealing the intense battle she’s facing in recovery from her devastating crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
In a heartfelt post on Instagram (cc’d through her channels), the 41-year-old legend wrote: “Made it through surgery… it took a bit more than 6 hours to complete. As you can see, it required a lot of plates and screws to put back together but Dr Hackett did an incredible job. With the extent of the trauma, I’ve been struggling a bit post op and have not yet been able to be discharged from the hospital just yet… almost there. Baby steps. Will explain the injury and what it all means soon. ❤️”
This marks one of her multiple procedures since the terrifying high-speed crash in the women’s downhill event in Cortina d’Ampezzo earlier this month, which left her with a complex tibia fracture. Vonn has undergone several surgeries—some stabilizing the break initially with external fixation, others progressing to internal hardware like the plates and screws she referenced—to reconstruct her leg amid severe trauma, swelling, and pain challenges.
Despite the “hard to manage” post-op pain delaying her hospital discharge, Vonn’s signature resilience shines through with her optimistic “baby steps” outlook and praise for Dr. Hackett’s work. Fans have rallied with thousands of likes, prayers, and messages of support, many calling her unbreakable spirit an inspiration during this long road ahead.
Vonn, a five-time Olympic medalist and one of alpine skiing’s greatest, has promised more details soon on the full extent of the injury and its implications. For now, her update serves as a powerful reminder of the brutal realities behind athletic comebacks—and why her determination continues to captivate the world.
Get well soon, Lindsey—we’re all rooting for you! 🙏❤️
