The alpine skier has released the first hospital photo after the accident that ended her Olympic comeback.
"Today I had my third surgery and it was successful," Lindsey Vonn posted on social media. "I'm grateful to all the incredible healthcare workers, friends, and family who have been by my side, and for the beautiful outpouring of love and support from people all around the world," added the legendary athlete. She also gave a shoutout to her teammates, who inspire her and give her something to cheer for.
The 41-year-old alpine skier went through a very dramatic and painful end to her Olympic dream. Lindsey's participation in her fifth Winter Games ended after just 13 seconds of the downhill. She started with number 13, launched aggressively from the gate, and tore through the opening section at high speed. However, on one of the gates on a terrain bump, she caught her right hand. This threw her off balance, she wasn’t able to recover, and it led to a hard fall, where she landed on her back and tumbled down the course. Medics rushed to her aid as she lay motionless on the slope. She was taken off the slope on a stretcher and airlifted to Ca' Foncello Hospital in Treviso.
The fall happened just a week after Vonn tore her ACL in Crans-Montana. After consulting with her team, she decided to compete in Cortina with a brace on her left knee, convinced she could manage the injury. Following the Olympic fall, she emphasized that her knee issues had nothing to do with the fall. She explained that she was about 13 centimeters off track when her hand caught the gate from the inside.
Subsequent medical examinations revealed a complex fracture of the left tibia. She underwent immediate surgery in Italy and indicated that several procedures would be needed for proper stabilization and treatment of the injury. This week’s surgery was her third.
Recovery time varies greatly depending on severity and complications, but the bone healing itself can take several months.
