KEY POINTS
- Lindsey Vonn broke her leg in a crash during the Olympic downhill and will need multiple surgeries.
- The 41-year-old says her recent ACL injury did not cause this crash.
- Vonn expressed no regrets about racing despite the career-altering injury.
U.S. alpine skiing icon Lindsey Vonn said she suffered a serious leg fracture in her Olympic downhill race and will require multiple surgical procedures to repair it.
The injury occurred early in the women’s downhill at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics when her ski line clipped a gate, triggering a violent crash.
Vonn, 41, confirmed the fracture is complex and will need more than one operation to fully fix her leg.
She said the crash was not a result of her recent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, which she suffered at a World Cup event shortly before the Games.
The veteran Olympian was airlifted from the slope and taken to a hospital in Italy where she has already undergone stabilising surgery.
In a statement, Vonn said she has no regrets about racing in what was widely expected to be her final Winter Olympics.
She had been hoping to become the oldest Alpine skiing medallist in Olympic history.
Vonn’s season had been strong, with multiple World Cup podium finishes leading into the Olympics.
Her dramatic crash overshadowed the women’s downhill event, which was later won by her U.S. teammate Breezy Johnson.
The American team confirmed Vonn is in stable condition and will remain under care in Italy.
Questions about future competitive plans remain open as Vonn focuses on recovery.
Her decision to race despite recent injury sparked debate among athletes and commentators about risk and athlete autonomy.
Vonn’s remarkable career includes 84 World Cup wins and historic Olympic successes.
Friends, family and fans worldwide have reacted with support and concern in the wake of the crash.
The injury, while devastating, capped a dramatic chapter in Vonn’s pursuit of Olympic glory.
