Lindsey Vonn says she is “making progress” after having a successful third surgery on the broken leg she sustained in a crash at the Winter Olympics on Sunday.
The American great was racing just nine days after rupturing ligaments in her left knee when she struck a gate 13 seconds into her downhill run in Cortina.
She was airlifted off the piste and taken to hospital in Treviso, where she was diagnosed with a “complex tibia fracture” in her left leg.
“I had my third surgery today and it was successful,” she wrote in a post on Instagram., external
“Success today has a completely different meaning than it did a few days ago. I’m making progress and while it is slow, I know I’ll be OK.
“Thankful for all of the incredible medical staff, friends, family, who have been by my side and the beautiful outpouring of love and support from people around the world.
“Also, huge congrats to my team-mates and all of the Team USA athletes who are out there inspiring me and giving me something to cheer for.”
Vonn was the Olympic downhill champion in 2010 and had been hoping for a fairytale ending to her illustrious career.
She retired from the sport in 2019 as the most decorated female skier at the time, having suffered several serious leg injuries.
After having a partial right knee replacement, she announced her shock return to the sport in 2024.
Since then, she had achieved eight podium finishes on the World Cup circuit, including two golds, and had been tipped to win a medal at her fifth and final Olympics.
But despite suffering the ACL injury in Switzerland in the last World Cup race before the Games, she was determined to take to the course in Cortina where she had enjoyed so much success.
On Monday, she said she had “no regrets”, adding: “I dared to dream and had worked so hard to achieve it.”
