CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, ITALY – Lindsey Vonn says her injuries from an Olympic downhill crash were “much more serious” than a broken leg.
Vonn posted a video on Instagram showing her returning to the United States on a private jet from a hospital in Terviso, Italy. As he was carried onto the plane on a stretcher, Vonn gave a triumphant fist pump, signaling victory.
Skyler Gray’s “Coming Home” plays during the video.
“My legs are still in pieces…but I’m finally home!” Vonn wrote. “My injury was much more serious than just a broken leg. I’m still wrapping my head around what that means and the path forward… but I’ll explain more in the coming days.”
Vonn suffered a compound tibia fracture in her left leg during the accident. She has had four surgeries in Italy and has already said she will need at least one more when she returns to the United States.
“I’m really looking forward to my next surgery to remove the X-Fit from my leg so I can move more,” Vonn wrote, referring to the scary-looking device used to stabilize her left leg.
The final shot shows Vonn smiling broadly in her hospital bed back in the United States.
opinion: Lindsey Vonn’s accident was brutal. Her courage embodies the Olympic spirit
What happened to Lindsey Vonn?
Bong hooked the fourth gate with his right arm and spun into the hard-packed snow. She fell several times before stopping.
“Things happen so fast in this sport,” American teammate Vera Wright said after the race. “Lindsay seemed to have incredible speed coming out of that turn and ended up catching her arm.”
The three-time Olympic medalist remained face down in the snow and screams of pain could be heard. Fans’ gasps and groans died down to a shocked silence as medical workers treated her. Vonn remained on course for approximately 13 minutes before being loaded onto a helicopter.
What is Lindsey Vonn’s injury?
In an Instagram post on February 9, Vonn shared the shocking news that she had suffered a compound fracture of her tibia and would need multiple surgeries. The 41-year-old updated her fans on February 11 after undergoing her third surgery in Italy, and also posted some scary photos showing her progress. On February 14, Vonn posted that she was finally able to return to the United States after her third surgery, although she still has surgery to complete.
“Once I return, I will provide updates and information regarding the injury,” Vonn wrote.
A tibia fracture is a fracture of the shin bone that requires urgent treatment. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “The tibia is some of the strongest bones in the body, and it typically takes significant force to break it.” “If you fracture your shin bone, you probably won’t be able to stand, walk, or put any weight on your foot.”
According to Yale Medicine, a compound fracture involves multiple fractures of the bone and damaged soft tissue. Symptoms include extreme pain, numbness, and in some cases, bones may protrude through the skin. Treatment includes stabilization and surgery.
Lindsey Vonn Accident Video
NBC broadcast the Olympics and posted video of Vonn’s crash.
USA TODAY Sports’ Samantha Cardona-Norberg provides commentary in the aftermath of Lindsday Vonn’s crash.
Fans fell silent as soon as Vonn crashed, reacting with shock and sadness, then cheering as a helicopter hoisted her into the sky. USA TODAY Sports spoke to some fans after the accident.
Is Lindsey Vonn okay?
After the crash, Vonn was clearly in pain but was able to move her arms, head and neck.
Approximately 18 minutes after the crash, the helicopter slowly began its flight towards Cortina. “Let’s hear from Lindsey Vonn!” the American announcer said as the helicopter flew away with her, and the crowd cheered and applauded.
Vonn’s sister Karin Kildow was on the downhill course today and told an NBC reporter during a live broadcast:
“That was definitely something we didn’t want to see happen and it happened so fast. When something like that happens, you just hope she’s okay right away. And then when you start seeing the stretcher being taken out, it was scary because that’s not a good sign,” Kildow said. “But she really…she was very brave and gave it her all. So it’s really hard to tell, but we really hope she’s okay.”
“She has all her surgeons and PT staff here, as well as her doctors, so I’m sure they’ll give us a report and we’ll see her wherever she is at the hospital.”
Lindsey Vonn tore her anterior cruciate ligament
It was the second time in recent weeks that Vonn had left the mountaintop by helicopter. She suffered a complete rupture of her left anterior cruciate ligament, a torn meniscus and bone contusions in a downhill accident on January 30, the last World Cup event before the start of the Olympics.
Vonn has had her right knee partially replaced and is also skiing. She was dominating the sport even before her accident, finishing on the podium in all five downhill races this season and winning two of them.
Despite her recent injury, Vonn was determined to compete in her fifth and final Olympics. She said her knee feels stable and strong and has been doing intensive rehab, pool training, weightlifting and plyometrics over the last week. She skied both training runs and had the third fastest time on the second run before it was canceled due to fog and snow.
Lindsey Vonn tore her anterior cruciate ligament
Vonn, 41, skied in her fifth Winter Olympics (2002, 2006, 2010, 2018 and 2026). She won three medals at the Olympics (1 gold, 2 bronze).
