Lindsey Vonn is home and recovering after undergoing her ninth surgery to address injuries from her crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics, telling fans the procedure went well and that she is “thankful to be on the final road to a full recovery.”
The 42-year-old American skiing legend shared the update on Instagram on November 12, 2026, following the multi-hour operation. “Surgery went well! It took over 5 hours to remove all of the plates and screws from my leg and replace my ACL. I am home from the hospital now and thankful to be on the final road to a full recovery,” Vonn wrote. She thanked her doctors, physical therapist Lindsay Winninger, the U.S. Ski Team, medical staff, and loved ones for their support.
The surgery, performed around November 9–11 at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado, removed hardware installed to stabilize a complex tibia fracture and reconstructed her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Vonn had torn the ACL in a World Cup crash in late January 2026 in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, roughly a week before the Olympics. The plates and screws had prevented earlier ACL reconstruction; surgeons waited for the bone to heal sufficiently.
Vonn’s Olympic downhill on February 8, 2026, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, lasted only about 13 seconds before she clipped a gate and crashed. She suffered a compound and tibial plateau fracture in her left leg, a broken right ankle, and developed compartment syndrome that required a fasciotomy. Doctors later said the interventions saved her leg from amputation. She underwent multiple operations in Italy before additional procedures in the United States.
Ahead of the latest surgery, Vonn posted a video acknowledging she was “nervous and anxious” but also “excited to hopefully put this behind me,” calling it her ninth procedure and “praying my last.” She noted her bones had healed, calling that “great news,” while preparing for a typical ACL recovery of six to nine months. Holes left by the removed screws will also need time to fill in with new bone.
Photos and updates she shared showed her giving a thumbs-up in a hospital setting, holding a bag of the removed plates and screws, recovering at home (including time with her dog), and receiving supportive messages from friends and fans. She has remained active in the public eye during recovery, appearing at events and continuing light training when possible.
Vonn, the 2010 Olympic downhill gold medalist and one of the most decorated alpine skiers in history (with multiple World Cup overall titles and dozens of victories), came out of retirement in the 2024-25 season aiming for another Olympic medal. She entered the Games as a downhill contender. Her competitive future remains uncertain; she has said she wants to ski again but will reassess after this recovery phase whether that means World Cup racing or recreational skiing. She has been listed on U.S. Alpine team rosters amid the uncertainty.
The latest procedure marks a significant milestone nearly nine months after the crash. Vonn has described the overall recovery as challenging, involving extensive rehab, and has spoken openly about the physical and emotional toll while expressing gratitude for medical teams and supporters.
As of mid-November 2026, she is focused on the next stage of healing at home.
