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After Lindsey Vonn crashed during the Olympics 2026 and was airlifted from the Cortina mountain, the alpine skiing star shared an update following her third surgery for her broken leg.
By Olivia Evans Feb 11, 2026 6:49 PM | Updated 2 hours ago
Lindsey Vonn Breaks Silence on Olympics Injury, Reveals Real Reason Behind Crash
Lindsey Vonn is going for the gold when it comes to her healing.
Days after the alpine skiing star’s 2026 Olympics ended abruptly due to a crash during her downhill final run—leaving her with a broken left tibia—she shared an update from the hospital.
“I had my 3rd surgery today and it was successful,” Lindsey wrote in a Feb. 11 Instagram post, alongside photos of herself in a hospital bed. “Success today has a completely different meaning than it did a few days ago. I’m making progress and while it is slow, I know I’ll be ok.”
The 41-year-old went on to thank the “incredible medical staff, friends, family, who have been by my side and the beautiful outpouring of love and support from people around the world.”
And while her Milano Cortina Olympics journey didn’t end how she’d hoped, she emphasized her congratulations to her fellow Team USA athletes, “who are out there inspiring me and giving me something to cheer for.”
Lindsey’s latest update comes just three days after she crashed during the women’s downhill final Feb. 8—and was subsequently airlifted from the Cortina mountain—which the winter athlete confirmed saw her “Olympic dream” come to an end.
“I dared to dream and had worked so hard to achieve it,” Lindsey wrote in a Feb. 9 post, “because in Downhill ski racing the difference between a strategic line and a catastrophic injury can be as small as five inches.”
Despite retiring in 2019 after sustaining several ACL injuries, the 2010 gold medalist emphasized that she had “no regrets” in her shortened Olympics comeback.
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“Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget,” she added. “Knowing I stood there having a chance to win was a victory in and of itself. I also knew that racing was a risk. It always was and always will be an incredibly dangerous sport.”
Indeed, Lindsey, who ruptured her ACL just a week before the Winter Games, emphasized that “the only failure in life is not trying,” adding, “I hope if you take away anything from my journey it’s that you all have the courage to dare greatly.”
For more from the Olympics 2026, keep reading…
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Never Give Up
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Swept Away With Joy
American curler Korey Dropkin lets out a victorious shout after his team defeats Switzerland in a mixed doubles round bobin match.
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