Lindsey Vonn, the third operation after the terrible fall at the Olympic Games. The message and images posted by the American skier, from her hospital bed
Lindsey Vonn during the Olympic Trials on Sunday, February 8, 2026. Credit: Handout / AFP / Profimedia
American skier Lindsey Vonn gave new details about her health on Wednesday, in the context of the violent injury she suffered on the slope of Cortina d'Ampezzo on Sunday, during the Olympic downhill event in which she had tried to compete despite the torn ligament she had recently suffered at the World Cup.
The triple Olympic medalist posted photos on social media from her hospital bed and stated that today she underwent her third operation “and it was a success”.
“Success today has a completely different meaning than it did a few days ago. I'm making progress and even though it's slow, I know I'll be fine. I'm grateful for all the incredible medical staff, friends, family, who have been there for me, and the beautiful outpouring of love and support from people all over the world,” Vonn said Thursday night in an Instagram message.
“Huge congratulations to my teammates and all the athletes on Team USA,” the skier added.
On Sunday, just 13 seconds into the downhill at the Winter Olympics, Vonn lost control, cut the line too tight, touched a gate with her shoulder and spun mid-air, suffering a violent fall.
VIDEO Lindsey Vonn, terrible injury at the Winter Olympics. It took the doctors minutes to pick her up / She was airlifted
The athlete was evacuated by helicopter, and the Italian authorities later announced that she had a broken leg. About 36 hours after the incident, Vonn told the world about the “complex tibia fracture” she suffered and the long road to recovery ahead of her, according to The Athletic.
She said she had no regrets about trying to ski at the Olympics with a previous cruciate ligament tear and insisted the episode in Cortina d'Ampezzo had nothing to do with that injury.
