The surgeon who operated on Lindsey Vonn after her serious accident at the Winter Olympic Games has spoken out amid warnings of a potential amputation.
Last week, Vonn, 41, was looking to continue her fairytale return to the ski slopes after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury less than two weeks before the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
Having come through her first run, Vonn was on the hunt for a medal in the final on Sunday.
However, things unravelled for the American as she was involved in a serious accident after her right ski pole clipped an outside gate shortly before the first timing point.
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Vonn hit the ground hard before tumbling down the course, and then she was airlifted to the hospital.
This week, Vonn delivered an update on her condition after surgery.
She wrote: "Success today has a completely different meaning than it did a few days ago. I'm making progress, and while it is slow, I know I'll be ok."
On Friday, Vonn posted a video message as she updated her condition again. The caption read: "A little update from me…thank you for all the love and support. Helps me so much."
Meanwhile, Orthopaedic expert knee specialist Dr Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet warned that some accidents like Vonn's could end up in amputation.
He told RMC Sport: "The timeline is quite unpredictable. It will be months before she can walk normally again.
"Her goal now is first and foremost to keep her leg and be able to walk. I think we're not yet at the stage of returning to high-level skiing. We're not there yet, but some injuries like hers can end in amputation."
Lindsey Vonn's surgeon speaks out amid amputation fears
Now, Stefano Zanarella, surgeon at Ca' Foncello Hospital in Trevis has spoken out.
He told Corriere del Veneto: "We're proud to have handled a delicate situation, without neglecting other daily emergencies.
"The staff [are] trained and ready to intervene at any time, in fact, we approached this complicated case with a team of experts, coordinating every step of the recovery process, which we are satisfied with."
Zanarella added: "The patient's words make us proud, also because we managed a delicate and ongoing medical situation. We put in the commitment we reserve for every patient, without being influenced by the fact that she is a champion.
"It's a high-intensity department. We perform five to six major trauma surgeries every day. Last weekend, we treated about 10 patients with fractures."
Topics: Olympics
Marcus Chan