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Vonn airlifted after high-speed crash in Cortina
American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn was evacuated by helicopter from the Olympic downhill course in Cortina d'Ampezzo on 8 February after a violent collision with a gate just 13 seconds into her run.
The 41-year-old, competing only nine days after tearing ligaments in her left knee, suffered a "complex tibia fracture" in the same leg and was rushed to Treviso hospital for emergency treatment.
Four operations in nine days
Vonn underwent four surgical procedures while hospitalized in Italy. She was discharged on Sunday and flown back to the United States, where she will face additional surgery.
In a post on X, Vonn revealed she had not stood upright since the accident. "Been in a hospital bed immobile since my race," she wrote. "And although I'm not yet able to stand, being back on home soil feels amazing."
Gratitude and reflection
Vonn expressed deep thanks to the Italian medical team who cared for her. On Instagram, she reflected on the risks inherent in elite skiing: "I knew what I was doing. I chose to take a risk. Every skier in that starting gate took the same risk. Because even if you are the strongest person in the world, the mountain always holds the cards."
"I was willing to risk and push and sacrifice for something I knew I was absolutely capable of doing. I will always take the risk of crashing while giving it my all, rather than not ski to my potential and have regret."
Lindsey Vonn, Instagram
Career-defining comeback cut short
Vonn, the 2010 Olympic downhill champion, had staged a dramatic return to competition in 2024 following a partial right-knee replacement. Despite a series of serious leg injuries throughout her career, she secured eight World Cup podiums-including two victories-since her comeback.
Her goal was a storybook finish at her fifth and final Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, but the crash in Cortina dashed those hopes.
Looking ahead
Vonn remains determined to recover fully. "I'm looking forward to the moment when I can stand on the top of the mountain once more," she wrote. Her next steps will focus on rehabilitation and further medical evaluation in the U.S.
