U.S. ski racing champion Lindsey Vonn revealed the extent of her injuries sustained in a harrowing crash during the Olympic downhill event. Vonn shared on Instagram that she suffered a complex tibia fracture in her left leg, requiring multiple surgeries for proper treatment. Despite the intense physical pain and disappointment of the outcome, Vonn expressed no regrets.
Prior to the crash, Vonn, aged 41, had recently suffered an ACL rupture in her left knee, an injury that typically sidelines professional athletes for an extended period. However, Vonn managed to participate in training runs at the Milan Cortina Games before the downhill race. She clarified that her previous ACL injury was unrelated to the crash.
Following the incident, Vonn’s father, Alan Kildow, stated that he would influence her decision to retire from ski racing, ruling out any return to the Winter Olympics after her leg fracture. Kildow, along with Vonn’s family, has been by her side at the hospital in Treviso where she is undergoing treatment after being evacuated from the Cortina course.
Despite the challenges, Kildow praised Vonn’s strength and resilience in handling the situation. He mentioned that her crash was more a result of pushing the limits of her racing line rather than her knee injury. Vonn, known for her numerous World Cup victories, will not be making a comeback to the Olympics and will return home once deemed appropriate.