Lindsey Vonn Undergoes Fourth Surgery After Olympic Crash: ‘Ride Was Worth the Fall’

Published: February 17, 2026

By Mallory Mattingly

Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn shared another update after her Feb. 8 crash during her final run of downhill skiing at the Milano-Cortina Olympics.

“Hey guys, just wanted to give you a little update and say thank you so much to everyone that has been sending me flowers and letters and sharks, stuffed animals. It’s just been so amazing and really helped me a lot. It’s been quite a hard few days in the hospital here,” Vonn began to say in an Instagram video from Friday.

“I’m finally feeling more like myself, but I have a long, long way to go. Tomorrow I’ll have another surgery, and hopefully that goes well, and then I can potentially leave and go back home, at which point I will need another surgery,” she explained.

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On Feb. 8, while racing, Vonn’s right arm hooked the fourth gate, sending her spinning before she landed, USA Today reported. She remained on the slope for 13 minutes while medics attended her before being airlifted from the couse.

On Feb. 14, Vonn posted another update after she had her fourth surgery to repair a complex tibia fracture.

“Surgery went well today! Thankfully, I will be able to finally go back to the US 🇺🇸! Once I’m back, I will give you more updates and info about my injury….But until then, as I sit here in my bed reflecting, I have a few thoughts I’d like to share…” she wrote.

“I have been reading a lot of messages and comments saying that what has happened to me makes them sad,” the Olympian continued. “Please, don’t be sad. Empathy, love and support I welcome with an open heart, but please not sadness or sympathy. I hope instead it gives you strength to keep fighting, because that is what I am doing and that is what I will continue to do. Always.”

“When I think back on my crash, I didn’t stand in the starting gate unaware of the potential consequences. I knew what I was doing. I chose to take a risk. Every skier in that starting gate took the same risk. Because even if you are the strongest person in the world, the mountain always holds the cards,” she said.

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Vonn went on to explain that she has no “regrets” of competing and pushing her body to the limits.

“I never want to cross the finish line and say, ‘What if?’ And to be perfectly honest, I was stronger physically in that moment than I have often been in the past. Certainly stronger than I was when I ended my career in 2019, where I got a bronze medal in the World Championships,” she said. “And mentally…Mentally, I was perfect. Clear, focused, hungry, aggressive yet completely calm…just as I had practiced over the past few months when I was on the podium in every downhill this season. 2 wins and leading the standings…that was all a test to prepare me for the Olympics. Mentally, I was more ready than I have ever been.”

“But just because I was ready, that didn’t guarantee me anything. Nothing in life is guaranteed. That’s the gamble of chasing your dreams, you might fall, but if you don’t try, you’ll never know,” Vonn concluded. “So please, don’t feel sad. The ride was worth the fall. When I close my eyes at night, I don’t have regrets and the love I have for skiing remains. I am still looking forward to the moment when I can stand on the top of the mountain once more. And I will.”

Vonn has a long road to recovery ahead of her, but just like she has done in the past, she will work hard and do all she can to get back to full health.

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