Lindsey Vonn talks passionately about her special Punch the Monkey stuffed animal
Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn shares the many gifts she received during her recovery from injury, including Punch the Monkey.
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Count Lindsey Vonn is one of Punch the Monkey’s many fans.
Someone sent Bon a stuffed orange orangutan that resembled Punch’s beloved companion when he was hospitalized after a horrific downhill accident at the Olympics. Punch was abandoned after birth, and zookeepers at Ichikawa City Zoo gave the monkey a stuffed animal to comfort him.
An image of Punch dragging a stuffed animal with him has gone viral and is loved by people all over the world.
“Some of my friends don’t know what a punch is, but I mean, everyone should know what a punch is,” Vonn told USA TODAY Sports on April 7. “Punch is the cutest”
Vonn spoke to USA TODAY Sports as part of Invivyd’s “Antibodies for Every Body” campaign.
The overwhelming support she received after the accident was a bright spot for Bon, who spent nearly two weeks hospitalized in Treviso, Italy, and Colorado. Vonn suffered a compound fracture in her left leg in the accident, as well as a tibial plateau fracture and a fracture in her right ankle.
She has undergone five surgeries to date, including a fasciotomy to save her leg after developing compartment syndrome.
While friends sent books and face masks, Vonn also received gifts from fans around the world. In addition to cards and flowers, she also received a giant stuffed teddy bear, a stuffed eagle and a stuffed shark while in Italy.
Vonn said she held the shark on the way to surgery and said it was still in bed.
“I felt so isolated from everything, but I think everyone’s support really made me feel better,” Vonn said. “I felt support like I’ve never felt before. As athletes, you get injured all the time, but 24 hours later no one remembers. ‘This is your ACL. Okay, see you in eight months.’
“But this was different and I was really grateful,” Vonn said. “Those messages really, really helped me through a lot of hard times, especially when I was in the hospital far from home.”
As for Punch, Vonn has been following him since she returned to the United States and was happy to hear that he might have a girlfriend.
“It’s always a bright spot,” Bon joked. “If Punch can (find love), so can I.”
