Vail, Colorado – Lindsey Vonn, the celebrated American ski racer, revealed she narrowly avoided amputation of her left leg following a severe crash during the women’s downhill competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on February 8th. The 41-year-traditional athlete detailed the extent of her injuries and the complex medical procedures she underwent in a recent social media post and subsequent interviews.
Vonn explained she sustained a complex fracture of both her tibia and fibula. The severity of the injury quickly escalated into compartment syndrome, a condition where swelling and bleeding within a confined muscle compartment cut off blood supply. “The reason for its complexity was the compartment syndrome,” Vonn stated in a video released from her Colorado home. “Basically, it crushes everything: muscles, nerves, tendons and it dies.”
Dr. Tom Hackett performed an emergency fasciotomy to relieve the pressure and save Vonn’s leg. “He opened both sides of my leg, let it breathe, and saved me from being amputated,” Vonn said. The six-hour operation was critical in stabilizing the area and preventing further, more drastic consequences.
As of Monday, February 23rd, Vonn remains in a wheelchair and faces a prolonged period of immobility. “I’m in a wheelchair right now, very immobile, and I’m going to be in a wheelchair for a while because I also broke my right ankle,” she confirmed. She anticipates approximately one year for full bone healing and will later decide whether to remove the metal hardware implanted during the surgeries, potentially requiring another procedure to repair her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
The accident occurred during the final downhill run, with Vonn losing control at high speed and crashing. She was airlifted to a hospital in Italy, where the initial assessment revealed the severity of the fractures. The U.S. Team opted to admit Vonn to intensive care, citing privacy concerns given her public profile, according to reports.
Vonn underwent five surgeries in less than two weeks – four in Italy and one after her return to the United States. “My injury was much more severe than just a broken leg. I’m still processing what it means and the road ahead,” she wrote on social media. She also expressed gratitude to Dr. Hackett, noting a remarkable coincidence: “If I hadn’t torn my ACL, Dr. Tom Hackett wouldn’t have been there. He wouldn’t have been able to save my leg.”
During her hospitalization, Vonn required a blood transfusion due to low hemoglobin levels resulting from blood loss. “I was in the hospital a little longer than expected because my hemoglobin was very low. I was in a lot of pain, the pain was a little out of control, and I had to obtain a blood transfusion. That helped a lot, I got past that stage, and now I’m out,” she explained.
Orthopedic specialist Dr. Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet told RMC Sports that injuries of this nature can sometimes lead to amputation, but in Vonn’s case, that outcome was avoided. Images shared by Vonn on social media show numerous plates and screws in her leg, prompting her to jokingly refer to herself as “bionic.”
Vonn’s career has been marked by a history of injuries. She underwent ACL reconstruction on her right knee in 2024, returning to competition and achieving a World Cup victory in the 2025-2026 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season, fueling her pursuit of an Olympic medal. However, just a week before the Games began, she suffered an ACL tear in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Despite the injury, she attempted to compete in the downhill event, resulting in the crash and subsequent leg injuries.
With 84 World Cup victories, 11 medals from major championships, and one Olympic gold medal, Lindsey Vonn remains one of the most decorated and recognizable figures in alpine skiing.
