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U.S. Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn said she can finally return home after multiple surgeries.
It’s been six days since she suffered an infamous fall just 13 seconds into the race in the women’s downhill in Milan Cortina. She has had four surgeries while confined in an Italian hospital.
“Surgery went well today! Fortunately, I will finally be able to return to the United States,” Vonn wrote in an Instagram post.
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Lindsey Vonn of the United States arrives at the finish area of a women’s downhill alpine skiing training at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Vonn refrained from revealing certain details about her condition.
“Once I return I will give you more updates and information about my injury,” he added.
“I’ve been reading a lot of messages and comments saying that what happened to me makes you sad. Please don’t be sad.”
Vonn became one of the biggest stories of the Winter Games, making her return to the world stage after a temporary retirement. He was competing just days after tearing his ACL. When the accident occurred, it shocked countless American fans and sent Vonn to the operating table for extensive medical procedures.
“When I think about my accident, I didn’t stand at the starting gate unaware of the possible consequences. I knew what I was doing. I chose to take a risk. All the skiers at that starting gate took the same risk. Because even if you are the strongest person in the world, the mountain always holds the cards,” he added.
“I was willing to take risks, push myself and sacrifice for something I knew I was absolutely capable of doing. I will always take the risk of crashing while giving it my all, rather than not skiing to my potential and regretting it. I never want to cross the finish line and say, ‘What if?’ And to be honest, at that time I was physically stronger than I had been in the past.”
LINDSEY VONN UNDERGOES OPERATION FOR LEG FRACTURE AFTER A HARD ACCIDENT DURING THE OLYMPIC RACE
Lindsey Vonn of the United States concentrates before a women’s alpine skiing training session at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)
She says she believes she felt “stronger” for this year’s games with a torn ACL than she did in 2019 at the time of her first retirement.
“I was certainly stronger than when I finished my race in 2019, where I got a bronze medal at the World Championships. And mentally… Mentally I was perfect. Clear, focused, hungry, aggressive but completely calm… just like I had practiced in the last few months when I was on the podium in every downhill this season. 2 wins and leading the standings… all of that was a test to prepare me for the Olympics. Mentally, I was more prepared than ever,” she said.
“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 may fall, but if you don’t try, you’ll never know.”
Your medical procedures may not be finished. She suggested she would need additional surgeries in an Instagram post on Friday.
“I finally feel more like myself, but I have a long way to go,” Vonn said Friday.
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American Lindsey Vonn is airlifted after a crash during a women’s alpine ski race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
“Tomorrow I’ll have another surgery and hopefully everything will go well. And then I’ll potentially be able to leave and go home, at which point I’ll need another surgery. I still don’t know exactly what that entails until I get better pictures.”
But now he can at least recover at home.
