Lindsey Vonn Hospitalized After Olympic Crash Faces Multiple Surgeries And Lengthy Recovery

Lindsey Vonn remains hospitalized as she awaits further imaging to determine the next steps in her recovery following a dramatic crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. The American skiing icon, who competed despite suffering a ruptured ACL just one week earlier, shared an emotional Instagram update from her hospital bed, revealing she has endured a “hard few days” and faces additional surgeries.

Vonn said she is beginning to feel “more like myself” but acknowledged she has “a long, long way to go.” She is scheduled for another surgery, which will be her fourth since the injury occurred during her attempted Olympic comeback. If that procedure goes well, she hopes to return home, though she expects to undergo yet another operation once doctors have clearer imaging results. For now, she remains largely immobile in the hospital.

Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic Comeback Ends In Crash But Without Regret

The 41-year-old was one of the most compelling American storylines entering the Games, returning to Olympic competition for the first time in eight years after a temporary retirement. Determined to compete, Vonn pushed forward despite tearing her ACL in a World Cup race shortly before the Olympics. However, her comeback was cut short when she crashed just 13 seconds into her first downhill race after catching a gate. She was airlifted from the course in Cortina d’Ampezzo and transported to a nearby hospital in Treviso.

In a separate post earlier in the week, Vonn expressed no regrets about racing. She described standing in the starting gate as an unforgettable moment and called simply having the opportunity to compete a victory. Acknowledging the inherent dangers of ski racing, she reflected on the risks athletes take in pursuit of their dreams, writing, “I tried. I dreamt. I jumped.”

Vonn clarified that her torn ACL did not contribute to the crash. She explained that she was slightly off her line when her arm hooked inside a gate, twisting her body and causing the fall. As she begins the long road to recovery, Vonn remains reflective, resilient, and focused on healing.