Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn can return to US after multiple surgeries
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US Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn says she can finally return home after multiple surgeries.
Just 13 seconds into the women’s downhill race in Milan Cortina, six days removed from the infamous crash. He underwent four surgeries while detained in an Italian hospital.
“Surgery went well today! Thank goodness I can finally return to the US,” Vonn wrote in an Instagram post.
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Lindsey Vonn of the United States arrives at the finish area of women’s alpine skiing downhill training at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on February 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Vonn declined to disclose some details about her condition.
“I will give you more updates and information regarding my injury when I come back,” he added.
“I’ve read a lot of messages and comments saying they were upset about what happened to me. Please don’t be upset.”
Vonn became one of the biggest stories of the Winter Games and returned to the world stage after a temporary retirement. He was competing just days after suffering an ACL tear. When the accident occurred, it sent countless American fans into shock and sent Vonn to the operating table for extensive medical procedures.
“When I think about my accident, I didn’t stand at the starting gate unaware of the potential consequences. I knew what I was doing. I chose to take the risk. Every skier at that starting gate took the same risk. Because even if you’re the strongest person in the world, the cards are always in the mountain’s hands,” he added.
“I was willing to take risks, push, and sacrifice for something I knew I could definitely do. Instead of slipping towards my potential and having regrets, I would always take the risk of crashing while giving it my all. Crossing the finish line and thinking, ‘What if?’ I don’t mean. And to be honest, I was physically stronger at that moment than I have been most of the time in the past.”
LINDSEY VONN RECEIVED SURGERY DUE TO HER BROKEN LEG AFTER A SERIOUS ACCIDENT DURING THE OLYMPIC RUN
Lindsey Vonn of the United States concentrates before a training session for women’s alpine skiing downhill at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
He says he believes he feels “stronger” in this year’s matches compared to 2019, when he first retired due to an anterior cruciate ligament rupture.
“I was definitely stronger than I was at the end of my career when I won the bronze medal at the World Championships in 2019. And mentally… Mentally I was perfect. I was clear, focused, hungry, aggressive but completely calm… just like the training I had done in the last few months this season when I was on the podium on every downhill. 2 wins and the lead in the rankings… all of this was a test to prepare me for the Olympics. Mentally I was more ready than ever.” he said.
“But being ready didn’t guarantee me anything. Nothing in life is guaranteed. It’s the gamble of chasing your dreams, you may fall but if you don’t try you’ll never know.”
Their medical procedures may not be finished yet. He suggested in a Friday Instagram post that he would need additional surgeries.
“I’m finally feeling more like myself, but I still have a long way to go,” Vonn said Friday.
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American Lindsey Vonn was airlifted after the accident that occurred during the women’s alpine skiing downhill race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on Sunday, February 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
“I’m going to have another surgery tomorrow and hopefully that goes well. Then I can potentially go home, at which point I’ll need another surgery. I don’t know exactly what that means yet until we get better imaging.”
But now at least he can recover at home.
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