Vonn Crashes Out of Winter Olympics Downhill
Lindsey Vonn has returned to the United States following four surgeries on the broken leg she sustained at the Winter Olympics, but she has yet to stand nine days after the crash.
The American skiing legend, who competed just nine days after rupturing ligaments in her left knee, hit a gate 13 seconds into her downhill run in Cortina on 8 February.
She was airlifted from the piste and transported to a hospital in Treviso, where she was diagnosed with a "complex tibia fracture" in her left leg.
The 41-year-old was discharged from the hospital on Sunday and has flown home, where additional surgery is planned.
"Haven't stood on my feet in over a week," she wrote on X.
"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."
Vonn was the Olympic downhill champion in 2010 and had been hoping for a fairytale conclusion to her distinguished career.
She retired from competitive skiing in 2019 as the most decorated female skier at that time, despite having endured several serious leg injuries.
After undergoing a partial right knee replacement, she announced a surprising return to the sport in 2024.
Since her comeback, she achieved eight podium finishes on the World Cup circuit, including two gold medals, and was considered a strong medal contender at her fifth and final Olympics.
Despite suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in Switzerland during the last World Cup race before the Games, she was determined to compete in Cortina, where she had previously enjoyed significant success.
Reflecting on the crash in an Instagram post on Sunday, she expressed anticipation for the day she can stand atop the mountain again.
"When I think back on my crash, I didn't stand in the starting gate unaware of the potential consequences. I knew what I was doing. I chose to take a risk," she said.
"Every skier in that starting gate took the same risk. Because even if you are the strongest person in the world, the mountain always holds the cards.
"I was willing to risk and push and sacrifice for something I knew I was absolutely capable of doing. I will always take the risk of crashing while giving it my all, rather than not ski to my potential and have regret.
"I never want to cross finish line and say, 'what if?' And to be perfectly honest, I was stronger physically in that moment than I have been often in the past."
Additional Information
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