American Olympic skiing legend Lindsey Vonn is making strides in her recovery, having ditched her wheelchair and sharing footage of her workouts just weeks after undergoing five surgeries that nearly led to a leg amputation.

The 41-year-old suffered a torn ACL mere days before the Winter Olympics commenced last month. Despite this setback, she chose to compete, resulting in a broken leg.

Following a series of five surgeries and the heartbreaking loss of her cherished dog, Vonn has returned home from the hospital. She is now focused on regaining her health.

In a video montage, Vonn is seen engaging in leg exercises and weightlifting, culminating in a clip of her rising to her feet.

Vonn captioned the post: ‘Definitely some hard times but still thankful… still working hard. The only goal is to get healthy. One day at a time. #icandothis.’

America ski hero Lindsey Vonn has been working out in the gym less than a month after nearly losing her leg

Vonn shared footage to her social media account, showing her standing up out of her wheelchair and hitting the gym

On Sunday, Vonn shared a photo with her dog, Chance, while reflecting on the challenging road to recovery that lies ahead. While the location remains uncertain, the 2010 Olympic gold medalist is known to own several homes across the country.

“My focus is now on therapy and getting healthy,” she wrote. “It’s going to be a tough and painful journey, but I’m dedicating all my energy to it, as I always do.”

‘I’m going to take some time for myself. I’ll give you updates when I can but right now my focus is on taking care of myself.

‘As always, thank you for the love and support.’

After trying to compete in the women’s downhill with a torn ACL, the iconic skier lost control over the opening traverse and came crashing down along a sharp downslope. Vonn was heard screaming after the crash as she was surrounded by medical personnel, strapped to a gurney and flown away on a helicopter.

Since then, Vonn had four surgeries in Italy and another in the US. Most recently, Vonn underwent a six-hour procedure last Wednesday, aimed at rebuilding the leg and covering the skin to avoid infection, according to NPR. 

Nolan Horner, a top orthopedic surgeon from Genesis Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Chicago, said Vonn came dangerously close to losing her leg in the violent fall.

‘When it’s identified, the patient should be taken to the operating room almost immediately,’ Horner told EFE, via Marca. ‘Every hour that passes once someone enters compartment syndrome, the risk of permanent damage or even limb loss begins to increase very rapidly.’

On Sunday, Vonn pictured herself alongside her dog, Chance, while writing about her difficult recovery ahead

Horner, who has experience treating athletes from the NBA, MLB and other leading sports leagues, said Vonn suffered from ‘compartment syndrome.’

‘Compartment syndrome is basically when, due to increased pressure in a muscle compartment, the pressure within that compartment becomes so high that it cuts off the blood supply to the limb. That can cause permanent nerve damage in a limb,’ he continued.

‘It’s considered a surgical emergency, and if it’s not treated very quickly, it can lead to the death of muscle tissue, permanent nerve damage, or even, in severe cases, the loss of the limb.’

According to Horner, after rushing Vonn into surgery doctors opened up or released her fascia – which is a connective layer of tissue that separates muscles in the body.

‘When bleeding or very intense swelling starts in these muscle areas, the fascia contains all of that, and that’s what causes the pressure inside the compartment to start increasing,’ he said.

Opening or releasing the fascia ‘allows the muscles to expand freely’ and ‘relieves the pressure’, which saved Vonn from permanent nerve damage and subsequent amputation.

When asked to assess her recovery timeframe, Horner estimated that the Olympics hero won’t even be able to bear weight on her leg again for up to three months.

‘The fact that she’s an elite athlete greatly improves her chances of a very good outcome, but she certainly has a long road ahead,’ the surgeon admitted. ‘She’ll likely have an extended period where she’s not even allowed to put weight on that limb, to allow the fracture to heal properly.’