CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Lindsey Vonn has had a third surgery, calling it ‘successful’ and giving a promising update on her recovery.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Feb. 11, Vonn said she is making progress, even though it is slow. She included three photos, including one that shows her injured left leg in a gruesome-looking device likely meant to stabilize it. There also appear to be stitches in her leg below the knee.
Vonn suffered a complex tibial fracture in her left leg when she crashed during the Olympic downhill Sunday, Feb. 6.
‘I had my 3rd surgery today and it was successful. Success today has a completely different meaning than it did a few days ago,’ Vonn wrote. ‘I’m making progress and while it is slow, I know I’ll be ok.’
Vonn appears to be in good spirits, despite the circumstances. She was giving a slight smile and a thumbs up in the photo showing the stabilizer and, in another, she’s laughing as she talks with a member of her medical team at Ca’Foncello Hospital in Terviso.
Vonn said she was thankful for the ‘incredible’ medical staff, friends and family who’ve been with her the last four days. She called the outpouring of support she’s gotten from people around the world ‘beautiful,’ and included a photo of multiple bouquets and floral arrangements.
She also thanked her U.S. Olympic teammates for ‘inspiring me and giving me something to cheer for.’
Despite being in the hospital, Vonn clearly has been monitoring results at the Games. Shortly after their events ended, she posted Instagram stories congratulating Jackie Wiles and Paula Moltzan for their bronze in the team combined on Tuesday, Feb. 10, and Ryan Cochran-Siegle for his silver in the super-G on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
What happened to Lindsey Vonn?
Vonn hooked the fourth gate with her right arm, which sent her spinning and hurtling into the hard, packed snow. She tumbled end over end several times before coming to a stop.
‘Things just happen so quick in this sport,’ U.S. teammate Bella Wright said after the race. ‘It looked like Lindsey had incredible speed out of that turn, and she hooked her arm and it’s just over just like that.’
The three-time Olympic medalist remained prone in the snow, and she could be heard wailing in pain. The gasps and groans from fans faded into shocked silence as medics worked on her. Vonn remained on the course for approximately 13 minutes before being loaded into a helicopter.
What is Lindsey Vonn’s injury?
In an Instagram post on Monday, Vonn shared the devastating news that she suffered a complex tibia fracture that will require multiple surgeries.
A tibia fracture is a break in the shin bone that is an emergency needing immediate treatment. ‘Your tibias are some of the strongest bones in your body. It usually takes a lot of force to break one,’ according to the Cleveland Clinic. ‘You probably won’t be able to stand, walk or put weight on your leg if you have a broken shin bone.’
A complex fracture involves multiple breaks in a bone and damaged soft tissue, according Yale Medicine. Symptoms include extreme pain, numbness and, sometimes, a bone that protrudes through the skin. Treatment involves stabilization and surgery.
Lindsey Vonn crash video
NBC broadcasts the Olympics and posted video of Vonn’s crash.
USA TODAY Sports’ Samantha Cardona-Norberg breaks down Linsdey Vonn’s crash just after it happened.
Fans went silent as soon as Vonn crash, reacting with shock, grief and later support as the helicopter lifted her into the sky. USA TODAY Sports talked to some fans after the crash.
Is Lindsey Vonn OK?
Vonn was in obvious pain after the crash, but she was moving her arms, head and neck.
About 18 minutes after the crash, the helicopter slowly began flying toward Cortina. ‘Let’s let Lindsey Vonn hear us!’ the American announcer said as the chopper flew away with her, and the crowd cheered and applauded.
Vonn’s sister Karin Kildow was at the course today for the downhill and spoke to NBC reporters during their live broadcast:
‘I mean that definitely was the last thing we wanted to see and it happened quick and when that happens, you’re just immediately hoping she’s okay. And it was scary because when you start to see the stretchers being put out, it’s not a good sign,’ Kildow said. ‘But she really … She just dared greatly and she put it all out there. So it’s really hard to see, but we just really hope she’s okay.
‘She does have all of her surgeons and her PT staff here and her doctors, so I’m sure they’ll give us a report and we’ll meet her at whatever hospital she’s at.’
Lindsey Vonn torn ACL
It was second time in as many weeks Vonn left a mountaintop on a chopper. She fully ruptured her left ACL, sustaining meniscus damage and bone bruising, in a downhill crash on Jan. 30, in the final World Cup event in that discipline prior to the start of the Olympics.
Vonn is also skiing with a partial replacement of her right knee. She had dominated the sport before the crash, making the podium in all five downhill races this season and winning two of them.
Despite the latest injury, Vonn was determined to race at her fifth and final Olympics. She said her knee felt stable and strong, and she had spent the last week doing intense rehab , pool workouts, weight lifting and plyometrics. She skied both training runs, posting the third-fastest time in the second run before it was canceled because of fog and snow.