Lindsey Vonn Faces Recovery After Milan Cortina Olympic Crash

MILAN — Legendary skier Lindsey Vonn is on the path to recovery after a dramatic accident during her participation in the Milan Cortina Olympics. In a heartfelt message shared on her Instagram account, Vonn revealed she has already undergone surgery following the crash. "I had my 3rd surgery today and it was successful. Success today has a completely different meaning than it did a few days ago," Vonn expressed, indicating that while progress may be slow, she’s optimistic about her recovery.

The 41-year-old was competing in the women’s Alpine downhill event when she suffered a fall just 15 seconds into her run, after clipping a pole. The mishap led to Vonn being airlifted from the course, an event that was both shocking and worrying for those watching. A photograph shared by Vonn online shows her left leg in an external fixator, a device often used to provide stability and reduce swelling after injury.

“Thankful for all of the incredible medical staff, friends, and family who have been by my side and the beautiful outpouring of love and support from people around the world,” Vonn said. “Also, huge congrats to my teammates and all of the Team USA athletes who are out there inspiring me and giving me something to cheer for.”

Vonn’s illustrious skiing career is marked by her remarkable achievements, including 84 World Cup victories, placing her behind only fellow American skier Mikaela Shiffrin. Her Olympic career has been decorated with three medals, one of which is gold.

Throughout her career, Vonn has endured numerous injuries. Notably, in 2013 she suffered significant damage to her right knee by tearing her ACL and MCL, along with a leg fracture during the World Championships. This was followed by a recurrent ACL injury that kept her out of the 2014 Winter Olympics. Additional setbacks included a 2015 ankle fracture in New Zealand and a knee injury in 2018 that marked the beginning of a series of leg injuries leading to her retirement announcement in 2019.

Despite announcing a comeback earlier this year, Vonn’s father, Alan Kildow, has voiced concerns following the latest incident, expressing a desire for her to retire from skiing definitively. "She’s 41 years old, and this is the end of her career," Kildow told The Associated Press. "There will be no more ski races for Lindsey Vonn as long as I have anything to say about it."

Rohan Nadkarni, from NBC News, reports on Lindsey Vonn’s recent developments in her storied skiing career.