Lindsey Vonn is not asking for sympathy after his fourth surgery following his 2026 Winter Olympics crash.
“The surgery went well today!” I am thankful that I will finally be able to return to the US! When I get back I will give you more information and information about my injury… But until then, as I sit here on my bed and meditate, I have a few thoughts that I would like to share…” Vonn, 41, wrote on Instagram on Saturday, February 14, along with a video of the Olympian skiing.
“I’ve been reading a lot of messages and comments saying that what happened to me is sad,” Vonn continued. “Please don’t be sad, compassion, love and support I accept with a good heart but please not with pain and compassion, I hope that instead it gives you strength to continue fighting because that’s what I do and that’s what I will continue to do.
Vonn added, “When I think back on my accident, I didn’t stand at the first gate not knowing the consequences. I knew what I was doing. I chose to take the risk. Every skier at that first gate took the same risk. Because even if you’re the strongest person in the world, the mountain always holds the cards.”
Team USA supporters and fans around the world have been following Vonn’s road to the 2026 Winter Olympics after she announced her return to professional skiing. (Vonn retired in 2019 following the World Championships in Sweden, but announced his return in 2024.)
While competing in the World Cup race in Switzerland on January 30, Vonn completely tore her ACL – nine days before the Olympic competition.
“After consultation with the doctor, intensive treatment, physical examination and skiing today, I have decided that I can compete in the Olympic Downhill competition on Sunday,” Vonn said on February 1, noting that she plans to run even without her ACL in tact. “Of course I still need to do one practice run, as needed to run on Sunday, but… I am confident in my body’s ability to play. Despite my injury my knee is strong, I have no inflammation and my muscles are firing and responding properly.”
Vonn took the hill on Sunday, February 8, in her women’s downhill race. Unfortunately, tragedy struck for 13 seconds when he crashed and was eventually airlifted to an Italian hospital. Vonn subsequently “underwent orthopedic surgery to stabilize a reported fracture in her left leg” and was “treated by a multidisciplinary team,” Ca’ Foncello Hospital said in a statement at the time.
“I was willing to take a risk and push and sacrifice something that I knew I couldn’t do,” Vonn continued Saturday. “I’ll always risk crashing while doing everything, rather than not skiing as well as I can and regretting it. I never want to fall [a] stop and say, ‘what could happen?’ And to be completely honest, I was physically stronger at that time than I usually have been in the past. I’m definitely stronger than I was when I finished [my] in 2019 where I won a bronze medal at the World Championships.”
Lindsey Vonn was airlifted out after a crash in Switzerland, just days before her miraculous return to the Olympics. Vonn, 41, lost control while running in the World Cup Race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on Friday, January 30, and ended up interfering with his studies. After receiving medical attention […]
Vonn added, “And mentally… Mentally I was perfect. Clear, focused, hungry, aggressive but completely calm… as I had practiced for the last few months when I was on the podium on every hill this season. 2 wins and leading the standings… that was all a test to prepare me for the Olympics. Mentally, I was fitter than ever.”
Vonn concluded her post by stating that “just because I was ready” for the 2026 Winter Olympics “didn’t guarantee anything.”
“Nothing is guaranteed in life. That’s the gamble of chasing your dreams, you may fail but if you don’t try you’ll never know,” he added. “So please don’t be sad. The ride was worth the fall. When I close my eyes at night I have no regrets and the love I have for skiing is always there. I still look forward to the time when I can stand on top of a mountain again. And I will.”
