Olympic ski legend Lindsey Vonn has shared her first detailed update following the crash that abruptly ended her long-awaited return to the Winter Games, confirming she suffered a "complex tibia fracture" that will require multiple surgeries.
In a statement posted to social media from her hospital room in Italy on Monday, the 41-year-old American said she has "no regrets" despite the devastating outcome of her run in the women's downhill final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Vonn was injured just 13 seconds into her descent on the Olympia delle Tofane course after her right arm caught inside a gate, throwing her off balance at high speed.
"I was simply five inches too tight on my line," Vonn explained, adding that the crash had nothing to do with the torn ACL she suffered nine days earlier during a World Cup race in Switzerland. Medical officials confirmed that the fracture in her left leg is currently stable, though further surgical procedures will be needed as part of her recovery.
Vonn was airlifted from the slope and transported to a hospital in Treviso, where she has since undergone initial surgery. The incident cast a somber tone over what many believed would be the final Olympic appearance of the most decorated female World Cup skier in history.
Despite the physical pain and uncertainty ahead, Vonn struck a reflective tone, acknowledging that elite downhill racing carries unavoidable risk. Her message echoed a broader theme she has referenced throughout her career-trusting the journey even when outcomes fall short of expectations.
As she begins a long road to recovery, tributes continue to pour in from fellow athletes and fans, honoring not only her achievements, but the courage it took to chase one last Olympic dream.
Related: Lindsey Vonn's Olympic Comeback Was Cut Short After Frightening Downhill Crash
