Lindsey Vonn’s highly anticipated return to the Winter Olympics took a devastating turn after a violent crash ended her pursuit of another medal. Just 13 seconds into her Alpine downhill run, the 41-year-old American skiing icon went down hard, later diagnosed with a tibia fracture in her left leg.
The injury compounds an already grueling road for Vonn, who had suffered a torn ACL in the same knee prior to the Games. The fracture is severe enough to require at least five surgeries, marking yet another chapter in the decorated athlete’s long battle with injuries.
U.S. Ski Team leadership speaks out
On Sunday, Sophie Goldschmidt, president and CEO of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, addressed Vonn’s condition in comments to the Associated Press.
“We’re working through all of that at the moment,” Goldschmidt said. “We’ve got a great team around helping her and she’ll go back to the U.S. for further surgeries.”
The update underscores the seriousness of Lindsey Vonn’s situation while reaffirming that she is surrounded by a comprehensive medical team focused on her recovery. Her immediate future will involve additional procedures once she returns home.
Lindsey Vonn shares emotional hospital update
Despite the setback, Vonn offered fans a candid glimpse into her recovery process through Instagram. The Olympic champion described the emotional and physical toll of the past week.
“It’s been a quite hard few days here in the hospital here,” Vonn said. “I’m finally feeling more like myself, but I have a long way to go. Tomorrow, I’ll have another surgery, and hopefully that goes well. Then I can potentially leave and go back home, at which point I’ll need another surgery. Don’t know exactly what that entails until I get some better imaging.”
Lindsey Vonn entered the 2026 Winter Olympics as one of Team USA’s most recognizable figures, already owning three Olympic medals — one gold and two bronze. This marked the fifth Olympic appearance of her storied career, which began at just 17 years old in Salt Lake City in 2002.
After retiring following the 2018-19 season due to persistent injuries, Vonn’s comeback had inspired fans worldwide. Now, her focus shifts fully to recovery, with future competitive plans yet to be announced.