Lindsey Vonn has revealed that her frightening crash at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics nearly resulted in the loss of her left leg.
The American ski legend, who crashed just 13 seconds into the women's downhill on February 8, initially disclosed that she had suffered a complex tibia fracture. (Read our initial coverage of the crash here.)
In the days that followed, it was confirmed that she underwent multiple surgeries after doctors discovered the full extent of the damage. (Full update on her tibia fracture here.)
Now, Vonn is sharing that the injury was far more serious than many realized.
A Dangerous Turn After the Crash
In a candid Instagram video, Vonn explained that she developed acute compartment syndrome - a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when pressure builds inside the muscles, restricting blood flow and causing tissue damage.
"The reason why it was so complex was because I had compartment syndrome," Vonn said. "When you have so much trauma to one area of your body, there's too much blood and it gets stuck and it basically crushes everything."
Medical experts note that without immediate surgical intervention, compartment syndrome can lead to permanent damage - and in severe cases, amputation.
Vonn said that possibility was very real.
The Six-Hour Surgery That Saved Her Leg
Vonn credited Dr. Tom Hackett, an orthopedic surgeon who works with both her and Team USA, for performing an emergency fasciotomy - a procedure that relieves pressure by surgically opening the affected muscle compartments.
"Dr. Tom Hackett saved my leg," Vonn said. "He cut open both sides of my leg and kind of filleted it open, so to speak, to let it breathe."
The surgery lasted six hours and likely prevented amputation. Vonn remained hospitalized in Italy for more than a week, undergoing multiple procedures. In addition to the tibia fracture and compartment syndrome, she also broke her right ankle and required a blood transfusion after significant blood loss.
In a striking reflection, Vonn noted that her earlier ACL tear - sustained weeks before the Olympics - meant Hackett was already present in Cortina.
"If I hadn't torn my ACL, Tom wouldn't have been there," she said. "He wouldn't have been able to save my leg."
A Long Road to Recovery
Now back in the United States, Vonn faces a lengthy rehabilitation process. She is currently in a wheelchair and expects to transition to crutches in the coming weeks. Doctors estimate it will take approximately a year for the bones in her leg to fully heal before addressing her torn ACL.
"It's going to be a long road," she admitted, describing it as "by far the most extreme and painful and challenging injury I've ever faced."
Despite the outcome, Vonn has said she has no regrets about competing in Milan-Cortina. (Read her earlier reflection, "The Ride Was Worth the Fall," here.)
"I'd rather go down swinging than not try at all," she said.
The Mental Battle
Beyond the physical trauma, Vonn has also opened up about the emotional toll.
"Today was a hard day... my physical battle began the second I got hurt but the mental battle started today," she wrote on X. "The battle of the mind can be dark and hard and unrelenting."
Still, she remains determined.
"I will find a way back to the top of the mountain of life."
Support has poured in from athletes around the world, praising her resilience and strength.
While her Olympic comeback ended in heartbreak, Vonn's response has shifted the focus from medals to something deeper - perseverance in the face of overwhelming odds. In moments like this, it's not just physical endurance that matters, but the inner resolve to keep climbing even when the mountain looks impossible.
For now, the slopes are behind her. The journey ahead is healing - one step at a time.
