Lindsey Vonn’s accident during the women’s downhill event at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics was quite a shock. On Monday, February 23, the American skier shared an update on her injury on her social media account, saying that the condition of her leg has exceeded a fracture. The 41-year-old revealed that the trauma suffered from the accident led to the condition called compartment syndrome.
This syndrome occurs when extra pressure starts to build up within the muscle, causing bleeding or swelling. The high pressure can restrict the blood flow and result in permanent injury if not treated.
Crediting her orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Tom Hackett, she was grateful for his immediate call for a fasciotomy that saved her life.
Vonn said, “When you have so much trauma to one area of your body that there’s too much blood and it gets stuck, and it basically crushes everything. He filleted it open (and) let it breathe, and he saved me.”
Vonn shared that the doctor was present with Team USA and her participation in the Milano Olympics. Reportedly, the skier was participating with a torn ACL in her left knee, which occurred ahead of the Games.
“If I hadn’t had done that, Tom wouldn’t have been there (and he) wouldn’t have been able to save my leg. It has been quite the journey and by far the most extreme and painful and challenging injury I’ve ever faced in my entire life times 100,” she added.
Vonn has now been discharged from the hospital, having broken her right ankle during the crash. She had to spend weeks in the hospital due to surgeries that were conducted in Treviso, Italy. She will currently have to remain confined to a wheelchair for rehabilitation. Her return, however, is a question for a year now as the bones suffered in the crash on the left leg will take time to heal. Right after the healing process, she will then undergo the surgery for her torn ACL.
Vonn, who made her comeback to skiing after a six-year hiatus following her retirement decision, however, has no regrets about whatever incident persisted. Ahead of the Winter Games 2026, she was at the top of the World Cup series rankings.
“It’s going to be a long road. I always fight and we keep going. I wish it had ended differently, but I’d rather go down swinging than not try at all. I think what I was able to achieve was more than anyone expected to begin with. … This year was incredible and so worth everything,” she also mentioned.
