Olympics
Lindsey Vonn’s unrelenting will has her returning to training just four weeks post injury. After a series of ups and downs, from her return to skiing (and winning), to her controversial choice to compete at the Olympics with an injured ACL, where a tragic crash broke both legs and left her in agonizing pain, to her rapid return to training, Vonn shows the world why she is one of the greatest winter athletes to ever live.
Just four weeks ago, Vonn suffered a crash in the Skiing Downhill event at the Olympics. Downhill is one of the most dangerous events in the Olympics, with athletes reaching speeds of up to 100 miles per hour while sacrificing protection for aerodynamic efficiency. Shortly into her run, Vonn’s right pole snagged the gate as she went airborne, hurling her off balance, forcing her to land perpendicular to the slope. This hard impact resulted in an airlift out of the venue and a myriad of injuries. She suffered a right ankle break as well as a complex left leg fracture involving her tibia, fibula head, and tibial plateau that resulted in compartment syndrome and a near leg amputation avoided by an emergency fasciotomy.
Vonn has been active on social media since her crash, giving updates on the injury and voicing her emotions as she endures this difficult period. On Instagram, she reported an expected year of recovery for her bones to heal before she has the option to remove the metal in her leg, after which she plans to repair her torn ACL.
On March 5, she posted the first video of her rehabilitation journey, getting back into the gym and persevering despite such extreme setbacks. Despite her severe physical pain and reported emotional distress, she is able to bounce back less than a month following her crash. She is seen performing various exercises that won’t interfere with her injury recovery, such as right-leg extensions, core and upper-body work, and simply standing up. She ends her post with the motivating mantra “#icandothis,” and knowing her grit and determination, nobody can tell her otherwise.
Athletes’ livelihoods are dependent on their bodies; injuries not only stop them from doing their job, but strip them of the ability to exercise their passion and, oftentimes, their mental escape. Recovery is deeper than just the physical challenge, but forces the most active people in the world to remain sedentary, deep in their heads. Lindsey Vonn has been open about the challenges accompanying recovery, but refuses to let it extinguish her fire.
While this season is likely to be remembered as one of tragedy for Vonn, it should also be remembered as one of success and resilience. After six years of retirement and numerous surgeries, Vonn returned to racing and held the number one spot in Downhill up through her injury. She podiumed every race she competed in and won two against younger, healthier competitors. At 41, Lindsey Vonn showed she had not lost her competitive spirit, grit, and certainly not her skills. While her season may have ended in tragedy, it will be remembered as an inspiration.
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