3 weeks ago
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Lindsey Vonn announced the death of her dog Leo, who died the day after she suffered a crash that eliminated her from the 2026 Winter Olympics: “This has been an incredibly hard few days.”
Lindsey Vonn Shares Update After Undergoing 3rd Surgery for Olympics Injury
Lindsey Vonn suffered a heartbreaking loss.
The gold medal-winning skier shared that her dog Leo died at the age of 13 on Feb. 9, the day after she suffered the 2026 Olympics crash in Cortina that left her with a broken leg.
“This has been an incredibly hard few days. Probably the hardest of my life. I still have not come to terms that he is gone,” Lindsey, 41, shared in a Feb. 18 Instagram carousel that featured a series of pictures of her and Leo over the course of his life. “The day I crashed, so did Leo. He had been recently diagnosed with lung cancer (he survived lymphoma a year and a half ago) but now his heart was failing him. He was in pain and his body could no longer keep up with his strong mind.”
Lindsey revealed that she had to say goodbye to Leo from a distance, as she was still in Italy recovering from her injuries at the time of his death.
“As I layed [sic] in my hospital bed the day after my crash, we said goodbye to my big boy,” she added. “I had lost so much that meant something to me in such a short amount of time. I can’t believe it. My boy has been with me since my second ACL injury, when I needed him most. He held me on the sofa as I watched the Sochi Olympics. He lifted me up when I was down. He layed [sic] by me, and cuddle me, always making me feel safe and loved. We have been through so much together in 13 years.”
For Lindsey, the loss of Leo in addition to her injury has taken a toll on her emotions.
Lindsey Vonn/Instagram
“It’s going to be a while before I emotionally process things but I know he will always be with me,” she wrote, adding that she takes solace knowing he’s reunited with her other late dogs and loved ones. “I know he’s up there with Lucy and Bear and my mom and grandparents and so many people I have lost in the past few years. Andi takes splice knowing he’s not in pain anymore.”
“There will never be another Leo. He will always be my first love,” she emphasized. “Heading in for more surgery today. Will be thinking of him when I close my eyes I will love you forever my big boy.”
As Lindsey navigates her grief following Leo’s death, she’s also working through her recovery following the crash in Italy, which has included several surgeries to repair the complex tibia fracture in her leg.
“My leg is still in pieces,” she wrote alongside a Feb. 17 Instagram video documenting her transition from the Italian hospital to a private jet that transports her back home to America and to another hospital. “But I’m finally HOME! Thankful to all of the medical staff who helped me get home and seriously looking forward to my next surgery when I can get the X-fix our of my leg and will be able to move more.”
Reflecting on the severity of her injury, Lindsey promised to remain optimistic and continue sharing details of her recovery journey.
“My injury was a lot more severe than just a broken leg,” she wrote. “I’m still wrapping my head around it, what it means and the road ahead…but I’m going to give you more detail int the coming days.”
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