Lindsey Vonn says she will soon return home after undergoing her fourth surgery following a devastating crash at the Winter Olympics.
In an Instagram post shared February 14, the decorated skier revealed that her latest procedure went well and confirmed she will head back to the United States for another operation to repair a complex tibial fracture in her left leg.
“Once I’m back I will give you more updates and info about my injury,” Vonn wrote.
Lindsey Vonn Confirms Another Surgery After Olympic Downhill Crash
Vonn suffered the fracture during the Olympic downhill race in Cortina. The crash ended her bid for another Olympic medal just months after mounting a comeback at age 41.
Despite a torn ACL, bone bruising and meniscus damage in her left knee from a January 30 crash during the final World Cup downhill before the Games, Vonn pushed through intensive rehabilitation to compete in Milano Cortina. She wore a brace, completed extensive physical therapy and pool workouts, and posted the third-fastest time in her second training run.
She crashed about 13 seconds into the Olympic downhill.
“While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets,” Vonn wrote in a February 13 Instagram post. “Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget. Knowing I stood there having a chance to win was a victory in and of itself. I also knew that racing was a risk. It always was and always will be an incredibly dangerous sport.”
Vonn Says She Was ‘More Ready Than Ever’
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Vonn said she felt physically and mentally prepared heading into the Olympics, even stronger than when she won bronze at the 2019 World Championships before initially retiring.
“Certainly stronger than I was when I ended career in 2019 where I got a bronze medal in the World Championships,” she wrote. “And mentally…. Mentally I was perfect. Clear, focused, hungry, aggressive yet completely calm. … I was more ready than I have ever been.”
She acknowledged that going all out for another gold medal meant accepting the risk.
“If you don’t try you’ll never know,” Vonn wrote. “So please don’t feel sad (for me). The ride was worth the fall. When I close my eyes at night, I don’t have regrets and the love I have for skiing remains. I am still looking forward to the moment when I can stand on the top of the mountain once more. And I will.”
Vonn included a video of her final run in Cortina, a location tied closely to her career. She earned her first World Cup podium there, and 12 of her 84 career wins came on that mountain.
“Thankful I have this memory,” she wrote.
Lindsey Vonn’s Comeback Inspired Millions
Vonn retired in 2019 due to the physical toll of repeated injuries. A partial right knee replacement in April 2024 paved the way for her return.
This season, she returned to form. She stood on the podium in all five downhill races, winning two, and led the downhill standings. She also finished on the podium in two of her first three super-G races and placed fourth in the third.
Her comeback placed her among competitors nearly half her age.
“Similar to ski racing, we take risks in life. We dream. We love. We jump. And sometimes we fall,” Vonn wrote. “I tried. I dreamt. I jumped. I hope if you take away anything from my journey it’s that you all have the courage to dare greatly.
“Life is too short not to take chances on yourself. Because the only failure in life is not trying.”
Lindsey Vonn Announces Encouraging News After Devastating Olympic Injury