Vonn experienced a scary fall during the downhill final on Feb. 8, bringing her 2026 Winter Olympics comeback to a close
Lindsey Vonn/Instagram
NEED TO KNOW
- Lindsey Vonn underwent a third surgery following her scary fall at the downhill final during the 2026 Winter Olympics on Sunday, Feb. 8
- The decorated skier shared she’s been making “slow” but promising progress in the days since
- “Success today has a completely different meaning than it did a few days ago,” Vonn wrote
Lindsay Vonn is on the road to recovery.
The decorated Olympic skier, 41, shared an update on her medical progress three days after she experienced an intense crash that ended her 2026 Winter Olympics comeback on Sunday, Feb. 8.
In a Wednesday, Feb. 11 post on Instagram, Vonn revealed she had recently undergone her third surgery to address the complex tibia fracture she sustained in the fall. She also shared two photos from her hospital bed and another depicting the many bouquets she received from well-wishers.
"I had my 3rd surgery today and it was successful," Vonn wrote in the caption. "Success today has a completely different meaning than it did a few days ago."
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She added, "I’m making progress and while it is slow, I know I’ll be ok."
The Olympian then thanked all the medical professionals who have been caring for her, her loved ones and the "beautiful outpouring of love and support from people around the world."
Vonn wrote to her fellow skiers and the broader Team USA at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics: "Huge congrats to my teammates 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 women's downhill final when, 13 seconds into her run, the athlete got caught on one of the markers and flipped through the air multiple times before landing in the snow. The athlete could be heard yelling in pain as a medical team tended her, and about 15 minutes later, the skier was airlifted from the course.
Following the terrifying crash, Vonn opened up about her injury, which caused the end of her Olympic comeback.
In a Monday, Feb. 9 post on Instagram, Vonn revealed she was just a few inches off during her run, which caused the fall. It was unrelated to her recent ACL injury, Vonn said, which she sustained just one week before the Olympics.
Her injury, a complex tibia fracture, will require multiple surgeries to fix properly, Vonn said.
Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty
"While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets," Vonn wrote in the lengthy post. "Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget. Knowing I stood there having a chance to win was a victory in and of itself."
Vonn's return to the Olympics this year marked her first since 2018, and her fifth altogether. Her first gold medal came in 2010 at the downhill competition at the Vancouver Games, where she also won bronze for the Super-G. Her most recent Olympic medal came at PyeongChang in 2018 with her third-place finish in the downhill race.
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