Lindsey Vonn Undergoes More Surgery After Olympic Crash

The 41-year-old Olympic champion remains hospitalized nearly two weeks after her terrifying downhill accident.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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Lindsey Vonn has undergone additional surgery on her badly broken left leg and is still hospitalized nearly two weeks after her dramatic crash during the Olympic downhill event in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Vonn flew back to the United States last weekend after initial treatment and at least four prior surgeries, but required another procedure that took over six hours to complete. The skiing legend said she is "bionic for real now" with all the metal plates and screws in her leg, and is still struggling with her recovery, though she is "almost there" with baby steps.

Why it matters

Vonn's crash has raised safety concerns within the skiing community, as her skis did not release during the fall, leading to the violent impact. At 41 years old, Vonn was attempting to win a medal at her fifth Olympic Games despite having a torn ACL in her left knee and a partial titanium replacement in her right knee, underscoring her remarkable determination and resilience.

The details

Vonn was 13 seconds into her Olympic downhill run when she got hooked on a gate, resulting in a spinning, airborne crash that sent her careening down the mountain. She flew back to the U.S. last weekend after initial treatment and at least four prior surgeries in Italy, but required another procedure on her badly broken left leg that took over six hours to complete. Vonn said she has been "struggling a bit post op" and has not yet been able to be discharged from the hospital.

  • Vonn crashed during the Olympic downhill event on February 7, 2026.
  • Vonn flew back to the United States last weekend, the week of February 10, 2026.
  • Vonn underwent another surgery on her leg on February 17, 2026.

The players

Lindsey Vonn

A 41-year-old American Olympic champion skier who was attempting to win a medal at her fifth Olympic Games despite having significant prior injuries.

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What they’re saying

“Made it through surgery. It took a bit more than 6 hours to complete. As you can see, it required a lot of plates and screws to put back together.”

— Lindsey Vonn (Instagram)

“With the extent of the trauma, I've been struggling a bit post op and have not yet been able to be discharged from the hospital just yet. Almost there. Baby steps.”

— Lindsey Vonn (Instagram)

What’s next

Vonn will continue her recovery in the hospital as she works towards being discharged. The skiing community will also likely examine safety protocols around ski bindings to prevent similar crashes in the future.

The takeaway

Lindsey Vonn's remarkable determination to compete at the highest level of her sport at 41 years old, despite multiple serious injuries, underscores her status as one of the greatest skiers of all time. Her latest crash and lengthy recovery process highlight the immense physical toll of elite-level skiing and the risks athletes take to pursue their dreams.