OLYMPICS: Vonn says post-crash surgery saved her leg from amputation

U.S. ski legend Lindsey Vonn revealed Monday that she nearly had her left leg amputated after a crash during the women’s downhill at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. She is now out of the hospital and aiming to move from a wheelchair to crutches in the coming weeks.

The 41-year-old Olympic champion shared on Instagram that the crash, which occurred just 13 seconds into one of the most anticipated races, caused compartment syndrome—a dangerous condition where pressure builds up inside muscles, restricting blood flow.

Vonn credited Dr. Tom Hackett, Team USA’s physician, with saving her leg. “He saved my leg from being amputated,” Vonn said in a video. She explained that she broke her tibia, fibular head, and tibial plateau, and Hackett performed a fasciotomy, cutting open both sides of her leg to relieve pressure and prevent permanent damage.

During the race, Vonn, wearing a knee brace after a previous ACL injury, clipped a gate with her shoulder, lost control, and was launched into the air before crashing violently off the course. Television coverage captured her screams as fans and teammates watched in shock.

Following the accident, Vonn underwent four surgeries in Italy and returned to the U.S. last week for a six-hour procedure. “It has been quite the journey and by far the most extreme, painful, and challenging injury I’ve ever faced in my entire life,” she said.

Vonn also suffered a broken right ankle and experienced significant blood loss, leading to low hemoglobin and a blood transfusion that helped her recovery. She expects it will take about a year for her bones to heal before deciding whether to undergo further surgery to repair her ACL.

“But I’m going to get right to work on rehab and take it one step at a time, like I always do,” Vonn said. “It’s been really painful and difficult, and definitely not the way I wanted to end my Olympics.”

-Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Pritha Sarkar/Reuters