What began as another Olympic downhill run turned into a life-altering medical emergency for Winter Games legend Lindsey Vonn.
The 41-year-old American star has revealed that doctors saved her leg from amputation following a horrific crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina earlier this month.
Vonn suffered a complex tibia fracture and a broken ankle just 13 seconds into her women’s downhill race after striking a gate at high speed. She was airlifted off the piste and rushed into emergency care.
In an emotional Instagram video, Vonn disclosed that her leg was “in pieces” and that she developed compartment syndrome — a dangerous condition in which pressure builds inside muscles, restricting blood flow and potentially leading to tissue death.
She credited her surgeon, Dr Tom Hackett, for performing a fasciotomy — an emergency operation that relieved the pressure and ultimately saved her limb.
“Dr Tom Hackett saved my leg — he saved it from being amputated,” Vonn said.
“He cut open both sides of my leg so it was open and let it breathe. He saved me.”
Four Surgeries and Blood Transfusion
Vonn underwent four surgeries in Italy, including a six-hour reconstructive procedure. She also required a blood transfusion after experiencing significant blood loss and low haemoglobin levels.
Having now returned to the United States, Vonn said she has been discharged from hospital and moved to a hotel — a milestone she described as a “huge step” in her recovery.
Recovery Could Take a Year
The skiing great is currently confined to a wheelchair and expects to remain so for some time due to the severity of both her leg and ankle injuries. She hopes to transition to crutches soon but anticipates needing them for at least two months.
Doctors have indicated that full bone healing could take up to a year. After that, she may consider additional surgery to remove metal implants and repair her ACL.
The crash came just nine days after Vonn had ruptured ligaments in her left knee, making her Olympic return even more dramatic.
Though facing a long and challenging rehabilitation, Vonn remains grateful — not only for surviving the crash, but for the swift medical intervention that ensured she kept her leg and the chance to fight her way back once again.
Source: BBC
Photo credit: Lindsay Vonn/Instagram
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