Lindsey Vonn has finally made it back to the states.
The American skier revealed Saturday afternoon that her fourth surgery for a severe tibia fracture she suffered in the women’s downhill event at the start of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics went well and that she will return to the United States soon.
“The surgery went well today!” he captioned the Instagram post, three days after his last surgery. “I am thankful that I will finally be able to return to the US 🇺🇸! Once I am back I will give you more information and information about my injury.”
The 41-year-old, who tore his ACL before the Games but decided to compete anyway, clocked 13.4 seconds in his race last Sunday. He was flown to Cortina d’Ampezzo and later revealed that he would need multiple procedures to repair the fracture before returning to the US.
Vonn, despite all the difficulties and missed the opportunity to get another gold medal after coming out of retirement at the Winter Games, said that people should not feel bad about what happened, but instead should give people a sense of hope and determination to continue.
“I was reading many messages and comments saying that what happened to me saddened them,” he continued. “Please don’t be sad sympathy, love and support I accept with a good heart but please not with pain or sympathy, I hope it gives you the strength to keep fighting because that’s what I do and that’s what I will continue to do.
2026 WINTER OLYMPICS
“When I think about my risk, I didn’t stand at the starting gate without knowing the possible 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 are the strongest person in the world, the mountain always holds the cards.”
Vonn, who won a gold medal in 2010 in Vancouver, said she was willing to take the risk to return to the sport she loved and didn’t want to live with regrets if she stayed home instead.
The injury, he said, makes him very sad.
“But just because I was good, that didn’t guarantee me anything,” he continued. “Nothing is guaranteed in life. That’s the game of chasing your dreams, you can fall but if you don’t try you won’t know.
“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.”
