Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn is sharing a brand new gnarly photograph of her damaged leg after struggling a devastating crash on the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“I’m bionic for actual now ,” Vonn, 41, shared in a Friday, February 20, publish by way of Xtogether with an image of an x-ray of her leg.
The x-ray confirmed her damaged bone wrapped in what appears to be like like a medal stabilizing brace.
“As you possibly can see, it required loads of plates and screws to place again collectively however Dr. Hackett did an unimaginable job,” Vonn posted by way of Instagram on Friday, together with a carousel of movies of her within the hospital with the x-ray images. “Thanks Dr. Viola for the surgical procedure help as effectively!”
She continued, “With the extent of the trauma, I’ve been struggling a bit publish op and haven’t but been discharged from the hospital simply but… virtually there. Child steps. Will clarify the damage and what all of it means quickly.”
Vonn suffered a left tibia fracture throughout her Olympic downhill occasion on February 8, simply 13 seconds into her run. She was airlifted off the course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. After the crash, she underwent 4 surgical procedures in Italy. She returned to the USA on Tuesday, February 17, and underwent a number of further surgical procedures.
“Only a fast replace… my final surgical procedure went effectively,” Vonn shared in one other Friday publish. “It took just a little over 6 hours. I’ve been recovering from the surgical procedure however ache has been onerous to handle. Making gradual progress however I hope I may be out of the hospital quickly. Thanks all for the help. ”
Earlier within the week, Vonn shared that she has not been on her toes in over per week as she continues her restoration from the ugly damage.
“Been in a hospital mattress motionless since my race,” she wrote by way of X on Monday, February 16. “And though I’m not but capable of stand, being again on dwelling soil feels wonderful #imhome.”
She added, “Big thanks to everybody in Italy for taking excellent care of me.”
A number of days after returning to the USA, Vonn revealed that not solely is she recovering bodily, however can also be recovering emotionally after her canine, Leo, died the day after she broke her leg.
“This has been an extremely onerous few days. Most likely the toughest of my life,” Vonn shared by way of Instagram on Wednesday, February 18. “I nonetheless haven’t come to phrases that he’s gone …The day I crashed, so did Leo. He had been just lately identified with lung most cancers (he survived lymphoma a yr and a half in the past) however now his coronary heart was failing him. He was in ache and his physique may now not sustain along with his sturdy thoughts.”
She continued, “As I layed (sic) in my hospital mattress the day after my crash, we mentioned goodbye to my massive boy,” Vonn mentioned. “I had misplaced a lot that meant one thing to me in such a brief period of time. I can’t imagine it. My boy has been with me since my second ACL damage, once I wanted him most. He held me on the couch as I watched the Sochi Olympics. He lifted me up once I was down. He layed (sic) by me, and (cuddled) me, all the time making me really feel secure and cherished. We’ve got been by means of a lot collectively in 13 years.”
On January 30, solely 9 days earlier than the Olympics, Vonn tore her ACL whereas competing in a World Cup race in Switzerland. She determined to compete within the Olympics anyway, later claiming her ACL damage had nothing to do with the crash that broke her leg.
“I used to be merely 5 inches too tight on my line when my proper arm hooked within the gate, twisting me and resulted in my crash,” she shared by way of Instagram after the crash. “My ACL and previous accidents had nothing to do with my crash by any means. Sadly, I sustained a posh tibia fracture that’s at present secure however would require a number of surgical procedures to repair correctly.”