American ski legend Lindsey Vonn has been released from the hospital more than two weeks after her devastating crash at the Winter Olympics, detailing what she called the most “extreme and painful” injury of her career—and revealing that emergency surgery saved her leg from possible amputation.
In a video message shared with fans on her social media channels, Vonn said she suffered a complex tibia fracture along with fractures to her fibular head and tibial plateau when she crashed during Olympic competition. The injury was compounded by compartment syndrome, a dangerous condition in which swelling and internal bleeding build pressure within muscle compartments, potentially cutting off blood flow and causing permanent tissue damage. “The reason why it was so complex was because I had compartment syndrome,” Vonn explained. “There was so much trauma and blood that it basically crushed everything in the compartment.”
According to Vonn, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tom Hackett performed an emergency fasciotomy—a procedure in which the leg is surgically opened to relieve pressure and restore circulation. She credited Hackett with saving her leg. “He saved my life from being amputated,” she said, describing the six-hour surgery that stabilized her condition. Vonn also revealed she broke her right ankle in the crash, leaving her currently confined to a wheelchair. She expects to remain non-weight-bearing for some time, with crutches likely for at least two months as rehabilitation begins.
The Olympic crash marked a dramatic and painful end to what had already been an emotional Games for the three-time Olympic medalist and World Cup champion. Vonn had suffered a torn ACL just a week before the Olympics during the World Cup race in Crans-Montana, Switzezrland. SnowBrains previously reported that the athlete decided to compete regardless, stating she had been given the all clear by her medical team to compete. The decision sparked some controversy with some questioning why she would not vacate her Olympic spot for a younger athlete. However, the 41-year-old emphasized that she had qualified as the fastest American and had earned her spot and was confident she was in top shape to compete after consultation with her team. The subsequent crash at the Olympic downhill race in Cortina was unrelated to the ACL injury and stemmed from Vonn catching her right arm in the gate when she went too high on the top of the course in a bid to choose the most aggressive line.
Vonn admits that she remained hospitalized longer than expected due to significant blood loss and low hemoglobin levels, eventually requiring a blood transfusion before stabilizing. She thanked medical teams in both Italy and Colorado for their care and particularly Dr. Tom Hackett for saving her leg. Despite the severity of the injuries, Vonn struck a characteristically defiant tone. “It really knocked me down… but I’m just like Rocky, I keep getting up,” she said, adding that she has “no regrets” about competing and would rather “go down swinging than not try at all.”
The Colorado ski icon, whose career has included multiple ACL tears, fractures, and her now legednary comeback after partial knee reconstruction, acknowledged that this recovery will be the most challenging she has ever faced. Still, she said she plans to begin rehabilitation immediately and take the process “one step at a time.”
While her Olympic campaign ended in a hospital bed rather than the finish area, Vonn said watching her Team USA teammates compete has been uplifting during recovery.
For one of alpine skiing’s most resilient athletes, the road back begins again—this time from a wheelchair, but with the same determination that has defined her career. During her 2025-26 season, Vonn won two downhill races, and claimed another five podiums, becoming the oldest woman in alpine skiing to win a World Cup. To date, she still leads the downhill season standings, nearly 150 points ahead of Germany’s Emma Aicher.
