Lindsey Vonn undergoes 'successful' third surgery after crash at Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics - 'I'm making progress, I'll be OK'
By Leon Imber
Published 11/02/2026 at 19:04 GMT
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Lindsey Vonn said she appreciated the "beautiful outpouring of love and support" from around the world as she issued an update on her third surgery. Vonn crashed out of the women's downhill on Sunday and later said she had suffered a "complex tibia fracture". The 41-year-old was competing just nine days after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in a crash during the World Cup.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
American skiing great Lindsey Vonn says she has undergone a "successful" third surgery following her crash at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Vonn, 41, crashed early in her downhill run as she made her Olympic comeback on Sunday. She subsequently confirmed that she had suffered a "complex tibia fracture" which required "multiple surgeries."
In a new update on her recovery, Vonn said on Instagram: "I had my third surgery today and it was successful.
"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 competing at the Games nine days after sustaining a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee following a crash in a World Cup race.
The 20-time World Cup crystal globe winner said that her ACL injury had "nothing to do" with her crash on Saturday and she had "no regrets" about competing.
"Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget," she said on Instagram.
"Knowing I stood there having a chance to win was a victory in and of itself. I also knew that racing was a risk. It always was and always will be an incredibly dangerous sport.
"And similar to ski racing, we take risks in life. We dream. We love. We jump. And sometimes we fall. Sometimes our hearts are broken. Sometimes we don’t achieve the dreams we know we could have. But that is the also the beauty of life; we can try.
"I tried. I dreamt. I jumped.
"I hope if you take away anything from my journey it’s that you all have the courage to dare greatly. Life is too short not to take chances on yourself. Because the only failure in life is not trying.
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"I believe in you, just as you believed in me."
Vonn returned to the Olympic stage for the first time since PyeongChang 2018, where she won bronze, before retiring from the sport for nearly six years.
The Team USA star has received widespread support from the sporting world in recent days, with tennis stars Rafael Nadal and Naomi Osaka wishing her well via Instagram, while cycling great Primoz Roglic paid tribute in an interview with TNT Sports.
Vonn's compatriot Breezy Johnson won Sunday's downhill event with Germany's Emma Aicher taking silver and Italy's Sofia Goggia bronze.
Watch every event of Milano Cortina 2026 live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.
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