Topics: Olympics
Lindsey Vonn has provided an update after being airlifted into hospital and requiring surgery following a frightening fall at the Winter Olympics.
Vonn, representing the United States at the Milan-Cortina Games, was carrying a severe injury going into the event after tearing her ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in her left knee at a World Cup race in Switzerland on 30 January.
Skier Vonn also suffered bone bruise and meniscus damage but after not feeling swelling or pain after getting through training exercises unscathed, made the extraordinary decision to continue competing.
However, nine days after rupturing her ligaments, she crashed just 13 seconds in after clipping a flag at the Olimpia delle Tofane course.
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Vonn, who returned to the sport after a five-year absence, was immediately taken to Treviso hospital, via helicopter.
In a first update, Vonn said that "past injuries had nothing to do with my crash" and revealed she would require multiple surgeries following a "complex tibia fracture".
Now, in a new post on social media, Vonn offered an update on her condition after returning home as she expressed appreciation for the medical care she revealed in Italy.
Writing on X to her 949,000 followers, Vonn said: "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. Huge thank you to everyone in Italy for taking good care of me."
The 41-year-old had previously confirmed she had three successful surgeries and was making good progress.
This was expected to be her final Olympics regardless of the injury and though Vonn has not commented on her future, her father has made it clear that she does not want her to compete again after the latest blow.
“She’s 41 years old and this is the end of her career,” Alan Kildow told The Associated Press.
“There will be no more ski races for Lindsey Vonn, as long as I have anything to say about it.”
Having retired in 2019, Vonn performed a u-turn in 2024 after undergoing a successful partial knee replacement and made a strong comeback as she was on the podium in all five races in the 2025/26 season.
She won Olympic gold in 2010 Vancouver and also took a bronze medal before replicating the feat eight years later at the Pyeongchang showpiece.
Vonn has a total of 84 World Cup wins and eight World Championship medals to her name and competed at five different Olympics.
