Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn has revealed the extent of her injuries following a serious crash during the 2026 Winter Olympics. In a post on February 20, Vonn shared a graphic X-ray image showing her broken leg, accompanied by a message detailing her recovery process. The incident occurred on February 8, just 13 seconds into her downhill event in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
Vonn, 41, described her situation as challenging, stating, “I’m bionic for real now.” The X-ray depicted a fractured bone that required multiple plates and screws for stabilization. She praised her surgeon, Dr. Hackett, for his exceptional work and expressed gratitude to Dr. Viola for assisting in the surgery.
Despite the extensive surgical intervention, Vonn indicated that her recovery has been difficult. “With the extent of the trauma, I’ve been struggling a bit post-op and have not yet been discharged from the hospital just yet… almost there. Baby steps,” she explained. Following the accident, she underwent four surgeries in Italy before returning to the United States on February 17 for further procedures.
In an update on her condition, Vonn reported on social media that her last surgery lasted over six hours. “I have been recovering from the surgery but pain has been hard to manage. Making slow progress but I hope I can be out of the hospital soon,” she stated, thanking her supporters for their encouragement.
Vonn’s ordeal has been compounded by personal loss. Just a day after her accident, her dog, Leo, passed away after a battle with lung cancer. Vonn shared her heartbreak, detailing her bond with Leo and how he had been a source of comfort during her previous injuries. “This has been an incredibly hard few days. Probably the hardest of my life,” she wrote on February 18.
Before the Olympics, Vonn had recently torn her ACL during a World Cup race in Switzerland on January 30. Despite this setback, she chose to compete in the Olympics, asserting that her ACL injury did not contribute to the crash that resulted in her leg fracture. “I was simply 5 inches too tight on my line when my right arm hooked inside of the gate, twisting me and resulting in my crash,” she clarified.
As Vonn continues her recovery journey, she remains committed to sharing updates with her followers. The support from her fans and the medical teams in both Italy and the United States has been a crucial part of her healing process. Vonn’s resilience and determination in the face of adversity serve as an inspiring reminder of the challenges athletes endure in pursuit of excellence.
