Lindsey Vonn has announced that she has undergone a third surgery following the severe leg injury that prematurely ended her bid for a Winter Olympics comeback at the age of 41.
The renowned American skier was already competing with a torn ACL in her left knee. Vonn has clarified that this existing injury did not contribute to her accident during the downhill final in Cortina, where she sustained a broken tibia, also in her left leg.
In a heartfelt Instagram post from her hospital bed in Italy, Vonn shared, “I had my third surgery today, and it was successful.”
“Success now holds a completely different meaning than it did just a few days ago. I’m making progress, and while it’s slow, I know I’ll be okay,” she continued.
Vonn expressed gratitude for the exceptional medical staff, her supportive friends and family, and the overwhelming love and encouragement from people worldwide.
She also extended her congratulations to her teammates and all Team USA athletes, stating that they continue to inspire her and give her something to cheer for.
Lindsey Vonn has shared an update from hospital after breaking her leg at the Winter Olympics
The 41-year-old skiing great revealed she has just had a third surgery on the brutal injury
The veteran athlete had sped over a hill and careered into one of the plastic markers on the side of the track before hitting the ground during her Olympic final run.
Her right leg appeared to hit the ground first, as a cloud of powder engulfed the American. Vonn then tumbled forwards again, appearing to smash her shoulder into the ground, before coming to a halt on the slope.
The Cortina crowd fell silent as medical crews arrived to attend to Vonn, who was later airlifted off the mountain.
A medic who rushed onto the scene to treat Vonn revealed how she needed to be calmed down and was in agony before being airlifted to hospital.
‘I intervened with the Carabinieri officer who was on duty with me at the start of the races, and we reached her on skis,’ Dr Thomas Spallinger told Spanish newspaper, El Mundo. ‘We assessed her and, given the nature of her injury, we decided to arrange for her to be transferred to the hospital by rescue helicopter.
‘She was in a lot of pain at the time, so I rushed to begin treatment on site and stabilized her.
‘Her physical therapist also intervened and helped us calm her until the helicopter arrived.’
The day after the crash, a devastated Vonn spoke out on Instagram about the incident, telling her followers: ‘My Olympic dream did not finish the way I dreamt it would. It wasn’t a story book ending or a fairy tale, it was just life. I dared to dream and had worked so hard to achieve it.
Medical crews arrived to tend to Vonn after she remained down on the mountainside
Vonn was airlifted to hospital after a lengthy period of treatment on the snow in Italy
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‘Because in Downhill ski racing the difference between a strategic line and a catastrophic injury can be as small as 5 inches.
‘I was simply 5 inches too tight on my line when my right arm hooked inside of the gate, twisting me and resulted in my crash. My ACL and past injuries had nothing to do with my crash whatsoever.
‘Unfortunately, I sustained a complex tibia fracture that is currently stable but will require multiple surgeries to fix properly.
‘While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets. Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget.’
Vonn was taken via helicopter to hospital where she has since had multiple surgeries
Vonn, pictured in 2010, has fought back from several major injuries across her career
Her father, who was watching from the sidelines when she crashed, has since pleaded with her to move on from skiing.
‘She’s 41 years old and this is the end of her career,’ Alan Kildow said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. ‘There will be no more ski races for Lindsey Vonn, as long as I have anything to say about it.’
Vonn’s career statistics include 45 downhill wins and 28 super-G victories, making her one of the most decorated speed specialists in the history of alpine skiing.
She previously recovered from a complete ACL and MCL tear suffered during the 2013 World Championships in Schladming to return to the top of the podium later.
