Lindsey Vonn faced a foot injury during an alpine skiing race on Sunday and was taken to intensive care, though not for the reasons one might assume.
The 41-year-old former Olympian, who was determined to claim another gold medal despite competing with a completely torn anterior cruciate ligament, was moved to the unit for “extra privacy,” as noted by reports.
After ranking 11th in Friday’s training and falling 1.39 seconds behind the fastest time, Vonn collided with a gate during Sunday’s race. This unfortunate incident led to her crashing just 13 seconds into the competition, abruptly ending her Olympic comeback hopes.
After hitting the gate, Vonn landed hard on her right foot, rolling down the slope before coming to a stop. Medical teams quickly arrived to assist her, and she was subsequently airlifted for further treatment.
According to reports, she sustained a “severe fracture of her right leg” and went through two surgical procedures following the accident. The surgeries aimed to address potential complications due to swelling and blood flow issues.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team confirmed that “Lindsey Vonn is injured but is in stable condition and is being cared for by both American and Italian doctors.”
Remarkably, Vonn’s participation in the race was seen as almost miraculous.
Vonn had come out of retirement in November 2024 but tore her anterior cruciate ligament merely eight days before Sunday’s event.
Despite the serious nature of her diagnosis, she expressed, during a press conference last Tuesday, her intention to compete nonetheless.
Vonn shared, “I rely on everyone on my team—my physical therapist, my doctors, my coaches, my trainers. They’re all working hard to help me reach a level of confidence where I feel ready to do my best.”
Following her injury, some speculated about its severity online, with Dr. Brian Sutterer questioning whether her ACL had suffered previous injuries or was merely partially torn.
Sutterer asserted, “This was not the trivial ACL tear that many assumed it was.”
In response to that, Vonn emphasized that her ACL was “100% gone,” stating, “My anterior cruciate ligament was fully functional until last Friday. Just because it seems impossible doesn’t mean it’s impossible.”
Still, Vonn shared a workout video on Instagram that showcased her progress. In the clip, she performed squats and other mobility exercises while wearing a knee brace.
Leading up to the event, everything seemed to suggest she would make a safe return.
With an impressive record of 82 World Cup wins and three Olympic medals, her next steps remain uncertain.
Interestingly, her teammate Breezy Johnson captured Team USA’s first gold medal on Sunday, becoming the second American woman to win the event after Vonn.
