Lindsey Vonn shares major surgery update following career-ending crash

Lindsey Vonn shared an update with her supporters on Wednesday with several snaps of her lying in a hospital bed following her horror crash at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Sunday.

The 41-year-old did a thumbs-up gesture to the camera as she lay with her leg extended, after sustaining a complex tibia fracture. In another photo, Lindsey smiled as she spoke to a nurse, and the third showcased the myriad of flowers she had received in the wake of her crash.

“I had my 3rd surgery today, and it was successful,” she began in the caption. “Success today has a completely different meaning than it did a few days ago. I’m making progress, and while it is slow, I know I’ll be ok.”

© Instagram

“Thankful for all of the incredible medical staff, friends, family, who have been by my side and the beautiful outpouring of love and support from people around the world. Also, huge congrats to my teammates and all of the Team USA athletes who are out there inspiring me and giving me something to cheer for,” she concluded. Lindsey’s teammate, Breezy Johnson, went on to win gold in the same event. 

Fans and supporters took to the comment section to share the love, with the official Olympics Instagram account writing: “You got this, champ,” while Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai added several heart emojis.

“You’re incredible. Praying over you!!!” said another, while a fourth chimed in: “Sending so much love and healing.” The ski champion crashed during the women’s downhill final on February 8 when she got caught and tangled on a marker, flipping her into the air.

© Instagram

She was airlifted off the course and shared an update on her condition with fans after receiving a diagnosis. “Yesterday, my Olympic dream did not finish the way I dreamt it would. It wasn’t a storybook ending or a fairytale; it was just life,” she began, alongside a photo of her skiing mid-air.

Learn more about Lindsey’s pre-Olympics crash below…

“I was simply five inches too tight on my line when my right arm hooked inside of the gate, twisting me and resulting in my crash,” Lindsey explained. She added that her complex tibia fracture would require multiple surgeries to fix, and shared that she had no regrets about her final Olympic run.

“I tried. I dreamt. I jumped. I hope if you take away anything from my journey, it’s that you all have the courage to dare greatly. Life is too short not to take chances on yourself. Because the only failure in life is not trying. I believe in you, just as you believed in me,” she concluded.

© Alamy Stock Photo

Going into the 2026 Winter Olympics, Lindsey was the top speed racer following her triumphant comeback to the sport. She initially retired in 2019 due to injury, yet returned to the sport in 2024 following a knee replacement.

© Getty Images

The Gold medal winner ruptured her ACL less than two weeks before the Olympics began, yet managed to fight her way into the finals before her Olympic dream ended on Sunday.

Her father, Alan Kildow, shared his hopes for her retirement after the ordeal with the Associated Press. “She’s 41 years old, and this is the end of her career. There will be no more ski races for Lindsey Vonn as long as I have anything to say about it,” he said.