By Mallory Mattingly
Olympic downhill skier Lindsey Vonn updated fans on her status following a big crash on Feb. 8 during the final run of her career.
“I had my 3rd surgery today and it was successful,” Vonn began a Feb. 12 Instagram post. “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,” she continued. “Also, 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.”
Just nine days before the Feb. 8 crash, Vonn suffered a completely torn ACL in her left knee. But despite that injury, she was determined to give the Olympics one last shot.
Related: Skier Lindsey Vonn Reflects on Risk, Resilience and ‘Daring Greatly’ After Olympic Crash
In her final run at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, Vonn raced down the hill, only to make it 13.4 seconds before her arm clipped one of the pylons, sending her spinning in midair.
When the skier crashed, medical personnel rushed to “Vonn and began securing her to a stretcher. Zipped into a red bag, Vonn was airlifted off the course. Half an hour after a buzzing crowd at the finish line had expected to see Vonn for the first time, they watched as a helicopter passed over their heads, airlifting her away,” per NBC News.
Once she received the medical attention needed, she took to social media to update everyone on her condition.
“Unfortunately, I sustained a complex tibia fracture that is currently stable but will require multiple surgeries to fix properly,” she shared.
Despite the tragic end to her career, Vonn remains hopeful with “no regrets.”
“While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets,” the Olympic gold medalist shared. “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. 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,” she continued. “Sometimes we don’t achieve the dreams we know we could have. But that is 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,” Vonn emphasized. “I believe in you, just as you believed in me.”
Vonn’s perseverance and resilience to keep going in the face of adversity, not just in Italy but throughout her whole career, will be something that continues to inspire her fans.
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