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Lindsey Vonn's Winter Olympics comeback came to an abrupt end after a dramatic crash in the women's downhill event.
The 41-year-old skiing legend clipped the first gate just 13 seconds into her run on the Olimpia delle Tofane course in Cortina, twisting her leg and suffering a complex tibia fracture.
Vonn, competing in her fifth Olympic Games, had already been managing a ruptured ACL, bone bruise, and meniscal damage. Despite these challenges, she chose to race, putting her experience and determination on display.
Following the crash, Vonn was treated on-site for a prolonged period before being airlifted to a hospital.
She later shared an update on social media, writing: "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." She also expressed gratitude to medical staff, friends, family, and fans for their support during her recovery.
Dr. Jesse Morse, a regenerative medicine expert, provided insight into the severity of Vonn's injury. He described it as a "bad" fracture, noting that the skier had already undergone her third surgery.
He explained that an external fixator, or "x-fix," is being used to stabilise the fractured tibia, and shared images of a similar injury to illustrate the seriousness of the break.
"When she said she would need multiple surgeries she wasn't kidding," he added. "When I say this was a 'bad' fracture I wasn't kidding."
Understanding the crash and its implications
Vonn explained that her crash was not related to her previous ACL injury.
"Because in Downhill ski racing the difference between a strategic line and a catastrophic injury can be as small as five inches," she said.
"I was simply five inches too tight on my line when my right arm hooked inside of the gate, twisting me and resulted in my crash. My ACL and past injuries had nothing to do with my crash whatsoever."
Despite the severity of the injury and the end of her Olympic campaign, Vonn emphasized she has no regrets.
"Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget," she said, highlighting her pride in competing and dedication to her sport.
Her recovery will be lengthy, but the medical interventions and expert care aim to restore her mobility and strength.
Fans and fellow athletes continue to rally around the veteran skier as she begins this challenging rehabilitation process.