Lindsey Vonn Shares Update After Winter Olympics Crash

The 41-year-old alpine skier is recovering from multiple surgeries following a downhill crash at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Lindsey Vonn, the 41-year-old former Olympic champion skier, has shared an update on her health condition after sustaining a fracture to her left knee in a crash during the women's downhill event at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Vonn revealed that she has undergone multiple surgeries and is grateful for the outpouring of support from fans around the world as she begins her recovery process.

Why it matters

Vonn's crash and subsequent injuries have raised concerns about the risks and challenges faced by aging athletes attempting comebacks at the highest levels of competition. Her story also highlights the resilience and determination of veteran athletes who refuse to let injuries derail their competitive dreams.

The details

Vonn was less than 15 seconds into the women's downhill race when she crashed, sustaining a fracture to her already injured left knee. She was airlifted to a local clinic and then transferred to a hospital in Treviso, Italy, where she has undergone at least three surgeries so far. Despite the setback, Vonn remains positive and thankful for the support she has received from fans and fellow athletes.

  • Vonn crashed out of the women's downhill event at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
  • Vonn had previously suffered an ACL injury in the same knee only weeks before the Olympics.
  • Vonn announced a comeback to the sport in late 2024 after opting for a knee implant surgery.

The players

Lindsey Vonn

A 41-year-old former Olympic champion alpine skier who was attempting a comeback at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“Just wanted to give you a little update and say thank you so much to everyone that has been sending me flowers and letters and sharks, stuffed animals. It's just been so amazing and really helped me a lot. It's been quite a hard few days in the hospital here. I'm finally feeling more like myself, but have a long, long way to go.”

— Lindsey Vonn (Instagram)

What’s next

Vonn is currently leading the downhill board at the FIS World Cup with a total of 400 points. Unless and until someone overtakes her in the final leg of the season, the 41-year-old might sign off with a downhill category World Cup title.

The takeaway

Lindsey Vonn's story serves as an inspiration for aging athletes who refuse to let injuries derail their competitive dreams. Her resilience and determination to make a comeback at the highest level of competition, despite the risks and challenges, is a testament to the power of the human spirit.