Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn has provided a stark look at her recent injury after a serious crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics. In a post on February 20, Vonn shared a graphic X-ray image of her broken leg, which she described as requiring extensive surgical intervention. “I’m bionic for real now,” the 41-year-old athlete wrote, revealing the extent of her injuries and thanking her medical team.
The incident occurred on February 8 during the downhill event in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Within just 13 seconds of her race, Vonn suffered a left tibia fracture, which led to her being airlifted from the course. Following the crash, she underwent four surgeries in Italy before returning to the United States on February 17 for additional procedures.
In her updates, Vonn expressed gratitude to her surgeons, particularly Dr. Hackett, who she credited with an “incredible job” in reconstructing her leg. The X-ray she shared showed numerous plates and screws used to stabilize her injury. “Thank you Dr. Viola for the surgery assist as well!” she added in her post.
Despite her initial optimism, Vonn admitted to struggling with recovery. She shared, “With the extent of the trauma, I’ve been struggling a bit post-op and have not yet been discharged from the hospital just yet… almost there. Baby steps. Will explain the injury and what it all means soon.”
In the days following her crash, she documented her challenges, stating that she had been immobile in her hospital bed since the accident. “Although I’m not yet able to stand, being back on home soil feels amazing,” she noted, thanking those who cared for her in Italy.
The emotional toll of her injury was compounded by the loss of her dog, Leo, who died the day after her accident. Vonn shared her grief in a heartfelt message on social media, reflecting on their bond over the past 13 years. “This has been an incredibly hard few days. Probably the hardest of my life,” she wrote.
Earlier in January, just days before the Olympics, Vonn had torn her ACL during a World Cup race in Switzerland. Despite this setback, she decided to compete in the Olympics, later clarifying that her ACL injury did not contribute to her crash. “I was simply 5 inches too tight on my line when my right arm hooked inside of the gate, twisting me and resulting in my crash,” she explained.
As she continues her recovery journey, Vonn remains focused on her rehabilitation, sharing updates with her followers while reflecting on the challenges she faces both physically and emotionally.
