Lindsey Vonn admits she nearly went ‘insane’ in Italian hospital after Winter Olympics crash as stunning skier gives harrowing details to Vanity Fair
Lindsey Vonn has admitted she nearly ‘went crazy’ while recovering in an Italian hospital following her horrific Winter Olympics accident that nearly cost her a leg.
In a new interview with Vanity Fair, The skier described in heartbreaking detail how much pain he was in and revealed that a Team USA doctor performed the critical surgery that saved his left leg.
The 41-year-old US icon made a miraculous comeback in Milan-Cortina last month before suffering a devastating leg fracture 13 seconds into her run in the women’s downhill final on February 8. He had already torn his cruciate ligaments before the Games.
After the first of five surgeries, Vonn suffered from compartment syndrome, which left doctors facing a race against time to avoid having to amputate her limb. The person who performed the vital fasciotomy was Tom Hackett, head physician for the US Ski and Snowboard Team.
After multiple surgeries in both Italy and the United States, the ski legend was allowed to return home to Utah on March 1, almost a month after the accident occurred.
Speaking to Vanity Fair, Vonn admitted that the pain was ‘imprinted in my brain’ and that she did everything to keep from going crazy while in the hospital in Treviso, Italy.
Lindsey Vonn tells Vanity Fair the heartbreaking details of her shocking Winter Olympics accident
Vonn, who was in danger of losing her leg, needed five surgeries in total
Detailing her first CT scan at the Olympic clinic before even going to hospital, Vonn said: ‘Halfway through I started sweating. I was in so much pain.
‘I shouted at the top of my lungs: Let me out. It just wouldn’t fall apart. He wouldn’t give up. It’s engraved in my mind.’
After flying to Treviso by helicopter, they were initially unable to land at the hospital because paparazzi gathered at the helipad. When they finally landed, a team of 20 doctors and nurses were ready to treat Vonn.
The first surgery went “great,” according to Hackett, but Vonn later woke up in the middle of the night screaming louder than she had after the accident.
His leg was swollen from compartment syndrome, and the pain was not relieved by large amounts of fentanyl, morphine, and oxycodone.
Detailing his decision to have surgery again, Hackett added: ‘There was a very high chance he would lose all function, if not his leg itself. The best-case scenario in such cases is that you can protect your leg, but it won’t help.’
Hackett successfully performed the fasciotomy, but all the experiences she went through in the hospital in Treviso, the severe pain, and the use of large amounts of medication left Vonn with psychological scars.
He remembers nurses checking on him every three hours, other patients in the ward with him, and the lights staying on until 11 p.m. Vonn says: ‘It took everything I had to keep it from driving me crazy.’
Ski legend breaks left leg after crashing in women’s downhill race
The 41-year-old later hit back at “haters” who said he was “selfish” about skiing at the Games.
When she finally returned home to Park City, Utah, Vonn was sent emotional letters from the likes of David Beckham, Jannik Sinner, Tom Brady and Prince William.
Part of Prince William’s letter shared in the interview reads: ‘The way you write about stepping into the starting gate with courage and no regrets says a lot about your resilience.’
Vonn showed off her incredible progress, proving that she’s rebounding faster than fans expected. The former gold medalist returned to the gym last week and shared video of her workout on social media on Saturday.
His current rehabilitation program includes a two-hour physio session every day, followed by two hours in the hyperbaric chamber, followed by a home gym workout.
Asked if he was considering returning to the ski slopes once again, he added: ‘I don’t like to close the door on anything because you never know what’s going to happen.
‘It’s hard to say with this injury. It sucks so much. I think this was a really terrible last run to end my career. I did it in just 13 seconds. But it was a really good 13 seconds.’
