Lindsey Vonn, the U.S. skier, is set to fly back to the United States for further treatment following a severe crash in the women's downhill at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The 41-year-old athlete suffered a complex tibia fracture in her left leg during the event in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, on February 8. She has undergone multiple surgeries in Italy and expressed no regrets about competing despite the risks.
Lindsey Vonn crashed just 13 seconds into her run in the women's Olympic downhill race on February 8, 2026, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. She got hooked on a gate, leading to a spinning, airborne fall down the Dolomite mountain. The incident resulted in a complex tibia fracture in her left leg, requiring immediate medical attention and a helicopter evacuation to a hospital in Cortina, followed by transfer to a facility in Treviso.
Vonn, who was competing at age 41 with a torn ACL in her left knee and a partial titanium replacement in her right knee, underwent multiple surgeries in Italy. By Saturday, February 14, she had completed her fourth procedure, which she described as going well in an Instagram post. "Thankfully I will be able to finally go back to the US!" Vonn wrote, adding that she plans to provide more updates on her injury once home.
Sophie Goldschmidt, president and CEO of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, confirmed that Vonn is preparing to return to the United States for additional surgeries. "We're working through all of that at the moment," Goldschmidt told the Associated Press. "We've got a great team around helping her and she'll go back to the U.S. for further surgeries." Goldschmidt, who visited Vonn in the hospital twice, noted that the skier is not in pain and in stable condition.
Reflecting on the crash, Vonn shared on Instagram: "When I think back on my crash, I didn't stand in the starting gate unaware of the potential consequences. I knew what I was doing. I chose to take a risk." She emphasized the inherent dangers of the sport, stating, "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."
Goldschmidt described the moment of the crash as shocking, with spectators in silence after the impact. "The impact, the silence, everyone was just in shock. And you could tell it was a really nasty injury," she said. Despite the injury, which specialists estimate will require 8 to 11 months of recovery, Vonn affirmed her passion for skiing: "The love I have for skiing remains."
The U.S. team's medical staff has coordinated Vonn's care, and efforts are underway to accompany her home. Vonn had aimed to become the oldest Alpine skiing medallist in Olympic history.
