Lindsey Vonn is on the long road to recovery after the injury she suffered in a devastating crash on the slopes during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy.
Vonn, who chose to compete just nine days after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), crashed during her attempt to compete for another medal in a women’s downhill event in Italy. After being airlifted off the mountain for medical treatment, it was determined that she had suffered a severe injury.
Medical professionals determined she had a complex fracture to the left tibia (shin), fracture of the fibular head and tibial plateau, along with a broken right ankle. That required hours of surgery and a blood transfusion as part of the extensive work the medical staff performed to save Vonn’s leg.
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The 41-year-old medalist has remained active on her social media, sharing updates on Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms. She has shown a range of emotions, including heartbreak and gratitude, which she further expressed in Thursday’s updates.
On her Instagram Story, she posted a clip from a longer video, along with the seven-word message “Thank you for getting me there, team,” featuring hands in prayer and a heart emoji.
In a longer update on her Instagram page, Vonn expressed her appreciation to the individuals who allowed her to compete again after her previous injuries.
The included video is a one-minute clip in which Vonn’s doctor, Dr. Tom Hackett, details the skiing star’s previous injuries and narrates about the situation. Footage and photos show the journey, including the team of medical professionals who helped her return to competition, and Vonn’s progress.
Among those she thanked in her IG caption were Dr. Tom Hackett for saving her leg and Dr. Roche for building her partial knee replacement. She also credited Lindsay Winninger and Lorenzo Gonzalez for working to get her knee ready while competing at the Olympics.
“It literally takes a village, and I am so grateful for every single one of them!” Vonn wrote, adding, “Thank you for putting your heart into helping me. Thank you for letting me follow my dreams one last time.”
Vonn is now looking to get back to good health again, previously referring to her Olympic crash injury as the most painful she’s experienced in her life. However, it appears she has a great support system and a tremendous team of professionals working with her to ensure she’ll get to where she needs to be.
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