Lindsey Vonn says her third surgery to repair a broken left leg was a success after a violent crash in the women's downhill at the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics. The 41-year-old shared photos from her hospital bed with an external frame fixed to her left leg and told followers she is "making progress" as she starts what doctors expect will be a long recovery. She was airlifted from the slope after the fall and is now being treated in Treviso, Italy, with family close by.
According to The Associated Press, Vonn posted on Instagram, "I had my 3rd surgery today, and it was successful. Success today has a completely different meaning than it did a few days ago." She also thanked medical staff, friends, and fans, and shared a shot from her hospital bed giving a thumbs-up with the metal frame clearly visible on her leg, the outlet reports.
The Washington Post reports Vonn crashed roughly 13 seconds into her downhill run and was airlifted off the Tofane course after what she later described as a "complex tibia fracture" expected to require multiple surgeries. Medical teams stabilized her on the slope before transferring her to a larger hospital facility in Treviso.
Comeback cut short
Vonn had only just returned to World Cup racing in December 2024 following a partial titanium replacement in her right knee, entering the Games as one of the season's top speed racers. As ESPN notes, she also ruptured the ACL in her left knee roughly nine days before the Olympics but chose to race anyway with a brace.
What doctors say and the recovery outlook
Andrea Panzeri, chief physician for the Italian Winter Sports Federation, told The Associated Press that some complex fractures are managed with external fixation to keep the leg stable until reconstructive surgery can be completed. Orthopaedic specialists quoted by The Independent have suggested a best-case recovery window of roughly eight to eleven months, while cautioning that timelines can vary widely with injuries this severe.
Vonn, who lives in Colorado, is reported to be surrounded by family while she recovers in Treviso, and teammates and fellow athletes have flooded her social media with messages of support, per People. For now, Team USA and Vonn are keeping the focus on her medical care and on thanking fans for the outpouring of support as she faces an uncertain next chapter in a storied career.
