More than a month after a terrifying crash at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics that left her with a broken leg and compounded an earlier ACL tear, skiing legend Lindsey Vonn has suggested her storied career on the slopes may not yet be finished.
In her first major television interview since the incident, the 41-year-old American told TODAY’s Craig Melvin that she is still processing the abrupt end to her Olympic comeback and has not ruled out a possible return to competition.
“I never got a final run. I never got to say goodbye,” Vonn said. “It leaves the door slightly open to… maybe I would do one more race to say goodbye or maybe I’ll race again. It might be fun to do one more run.
Vonn’s Olympic journey ended dramatically on February 8 during the women’s downhill at Cortina d’Ampezzo. Just 13 seconds into her run, she clipped a gate, became airborne, and suffered a complex tibia fracture in her left leg. The crash came only nine days after she had ruptured her ACL in a high-speed training crash at Crans-Montana, Switzerland—an injury she remarkably chose to compete through, racing with what she described as “zero percent” of the ligament intact.
She was airlifted off the mountain and underwent multiple surgeries in Italy, including treatment for compartment syndrome that doctors said nearly resulted in amputation of her leg. Vonn later credited U.S. orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tom Hackett with saving the limb through a fasciotomy and other procedures. She was eventually flown back to the United States for additional operations.
Despite the severity of the injuries—which included a stabilized fracture requiring further surgeries, bone bruising, and meniscal damage—Vonn has repeatedly expressed no regrets about her decision to compete.
“Knowing all she knows today, [she] would do it all again,” she told ESPN in recent comments. She emphasized her focus on recovery while refusing to close the door on her future in the sport.
In mid-March, Vonn pushed back against external pressure and speculation about retirement, writing on social media: “No, I’m not ready to discuss my future in skiing… At my age, I’m the only one that will decide my future. Please stop telling me what I should or should not do.” She noted her remarkable comeback season, in which she returned from six years of retirement to top the World Cup downhill standings at age 41 and set new records.
Vonn has shared glimpses of her rehabilitation on social media, including returning to the gym just weeks after the crash and taking recovery “one day at a time.” In recent weeks, reports have surfaced of additional procedures to address ongoing issues from the Olympic injury.
The five-time Olympian and Olympic medalist leaves behind an unparalleled legacy in alpine skiing: 82 World Cup wins, four overall titles, and a historic return that captivated fans worldwide. Whether that legacy gains one more chapter remains to be seen.
For now, Vonn appears determined to heal on her own timeline—and keep her options open.
“I don’t like to close the door on anything, because you just never know what’s going to happen,” she has said in recent reflections.
Fans and the skiing community continue to watch her recovery closely, hoping the champion who dared to dream big one last time finds the ending she deserves.
