Lindsey Vonn, the renowned American skier, has recently provided an update on her health as she recovers in bed following surgery on her broken leg.
The 41-year-old athlete underwent her fifth operation to address a complicated tibia fracture she sustained. This injury occurred on February 8 during an attempt to compete in the women’s downhill event at the Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy, despite having a torn ACL.
After returning to the United States for this latest surgery, Vonn shared her experience of dealing with significant pain.
“Just a quick update… my last surgery went well,” she posted on X. “The procedure lasted over six hours. Recovery has been challenging due to the pain, but I’m making gradual progress and hope to leave the hospital soon. Thank you all for your support.”
This surgery marked her first since returning to America and took place ten days after her severe crash on the Cortina slopes.
Vonn lost her balance on the initial traverse, taking a line that was too tight, which caused her to spin in the air.
Lindsey Vonn has undergone a five surgeries since hurting her leg at the Winter Olympics
The skiing legend suffered a broken left leg after she crashed in the women’s downhill
Vonn was heard screaming after the crash as she was surrounded by medical personnel before she was strapped to a gurney and flown away by helicopter.
Following her fourth operation last weekend, she was discharged from hospital on Sunday, allowing her to set off on her journey back to the States the following day.
Getting her out of the hospital, to the airport, on a plane and straight to a hospital on home soil, of course, proved a difficult task given the severity of her injury.
Vonn shared a series of videos of her long-winded journey on Instagram, which showed a huge group of medical staff getting her out of Italy.
She wrote: ‘My leg is still in pieces…but I’m finally HOME!’
‘Thankful to all of the medical staff who helped me get home,’ Vonn added, ‘and seriously looking forward to my next surgery when I can get the X-fix out of my leg and will be able to move more.
‘My injury was a lot more severe than just a broken leg. I’m still wrapping my head around it, what it means and the road ahead… but I’m going to give you more detail in the coming days.
‘As always, I appreciate all the love and support’.
Vonn was taken off the slope and to a local hospital via helicopter after the premature finish
In an earlier update, she insisted that she had no regrets about competing at the Games, despite tearing her ACL in her left leg just days before the downhill event.
She claimed that the existing injury had no influence over what happened and remarkably vowed to ski again one day in the future.
Despite her optimistic outlook, the former Olympic champion suffered further heartbreak when her beloved dog, Leo, died just days after her crash.
‘This has been an incredibly hard few days. Probably the hardest [of my] life. I still have not come to terms that he is gone…’ she wrote alongside several photos of Leo.
Vonn then explained how her beloved dog, who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer a year-and-a-half after surviving a battle with lymphoma, suffered a major health setback on the same day she crashed at the Olympics.
‘He was in pain and his body could no longer keep up with his strong mind,’ the Olympian continued.
‘As I [laid] in my hospital bed the day after my crash, we said goodbye to my big boy. I had lost so much that meant something to me in such a short amount of time. I can’t believe it.’
Vonn adopted Leo from an animal shelter back in 2014 as he recovered from a ‘bad knee’ after getting hit by a car, adding him to a pack that also included other dogs Lucy, who passed away in August of last year, and Chance.
Vonn rescued Leo, who died after a battle with lung cancer, from an animal shelter back in 2014
The Olympian says Leo’s passing and her injury have made for the hardest few days of her life
‘My boy has been with me since my second ACL injury, when I needed him most,’ Vonn added. ‘He held me on the sofa as I watched the Sochi Olympics. He lifted me up when I was down. He [laid] by me, and cuddled me, always making me feel safe and loved. We have been through so much together in 13 years.
‘It’s going to be a while before I emotionally process things but I know he will always be with me. I know he’s up there with Lucy and Bear and my mom and grandparents and so many people I have lost in the past few years. [And I take solace] knowing he’s not in pain anymore.
‘There will never be another Leo. He will always be my first love. Heading in for more surgery today. Will be thinking of him when I close my eyes.
‘I will love you forever my big boy’.
