Three-time Olympic skiing medalist Lindsey Vonn has shared a poignant video update from her hospital bed following a severe crash at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. A surgeon has warned that the 41-year-old athlete faces the risk of leg amputation after fracturing her left leg—the same one she previously tore her ACL in—during the women’s downhill event last Sunday.
Severe Injury and Multiple Surgeries
Vonn tumbled during the high-speed descent and required an airlift to a nearby hospital in Milano Cortina. Medical teams have performed three surgeries over the past six days, raising concerns that she may struggle to walk normally for months even in the best-case scenario. Officials confirm she now faces two additional operations.
Update from the Hospital Bed
In her latest social media videos, Vonn reflects on her dashed Olympic aspirations, stating, “It wasn’t a storybook ending or a fairy tale, it was just life.” From her hospital bed, she provided a candid update: “Hey guys, just wanted to give a little update and say thank you so much to everyone that has been sending me flowers and letters and sharks, stuffed animals, it’s just been so amazing, and it’s really helped me a lot. It’s really been quite a hard few days in the hospital here.”
She continued, “I’m finally feeling more like myself, but I have a long, 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 will need another surgery. So I don’t know exactly what that entails yet until I get some better imaging, but that’s kind of where I am right now.”
Vonn added, “I’m just in the hospital, very much immobile. But I have a lot of friends and family that have been coming up to visit and like I said the letters and notes and everything, flowers, have just been so incredible. The staff and medical team here have been amazing so I feel very lucky and fortunate to have so many people around me that have helped me get through this. So I just want to say thank you and go Team USA. It’s been so great to watch and has really lifted my spirit, so good job team and keep crushing it. I’ll check with you guys when I can.”
Outpouring of Support
Fans and fellow athletes have rallied around Vonn. The U.S. Ski Team’s official page commented, “Thinking of you Lindsey. Sending all the love from Team USA.” Olympic gymnast Simone Biles wrote, “Sending good vibes,” while teammate Jade Carey shared four heart emojis. German tennis star Sabine Lisicki posted, “Stay Strong LV! Wishing you all the best for the surgery tomorrow. Sending a big hug your way!” Additional messages arrived from Naomi Osaka, David Beckham, TNT Sports, and author Amy Griffin.
