Olympic skiing legend Lindsey Vonn shared a candid and emotional update on Friday after undergoing her fifth surgery to repair the devastating complex tibia fracture she suffered in a high-speed crash during the women’s downhill at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
In her Instagram post, Vonn 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. ❤️🙏🏻”
The 41-year-old five-time Olympic medalist included striking images: X-rays revealing extensive metal hardware stabilizing her leg, a photo of surgical plates and screws, and a video of her being wheeled in the hospital. This procedure—her first back in the U.S. after four initial surgeries in Italy—marks a major step in her recovery since the Feb. 8 crash that airlifted her to hospital and sidelined her from the Games.
Vonn has been transparent about the severity: the injury is far more than a simple break, involving significant trauma that has made pain “hard to manage” and delayed discharge. Fans have flooded her posts with support, with thousands of likes, prayers, and messages calling her strength inspirational amid the grueling road ahead.
The skiing icon praised surgeon Dr. Tom Hackett for his work and promised a deeper explanation of the injury’s full impact soon. For now, her message of resilience—”baby steps”—resonates as she fights toward recovery.
The world is watching and rooting for one of alpine skiing’s toughest competitors. Get well soon, Lindsey! 💪⛷️
