Lindsey Vonn Reveals She Was At Risk Of Losing Her Leg After 2026 Winter Olympics Crash

American skier Lindsey Vonn revealed that she was at risk of losing her leg after her tibia fracture in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Vonn crashed during the women’s downhill event. She was airlifted out of the course. She has undergone several surgeries, both in Italy and in the United States. 

In an Instagram post, Vonn revealed that her crash also led to compartment syndrome in her leg. This is when excessive pressure builds up in a muscle. 

Dr. Tom Hackett, who worked for Vonn and Team USA, performed a fasciotomy. This is an emergency surgery where connective tissue is cut to relieve high pressure. 

Vonn suffered a torn ACL before the Winter Olympics. Despite this, she did several practice runs on the Olympic slope, all of which were successful. 

It’s unclear how much her torn ACL impacted her eventual injury in the Olympics. The injury was caused by her right arm, not her leg, hooking on a gate. However, some medical experts have argued that having full movement in her left leg would’ve allowed her to regain control or at least minimize the damage of her fall. 

Hackett was brought in by the U.S. to observe Vonn’s ACL. If he hadn’t brought in, there’s a chance that Vonn would’ve needed an amputation. 

Regardless, both the torn ACL and injuries sustained at the Olympics likely mean an end to her skiing career. Vonn won the gold medal in downhill skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympics. She also won the bronze medal in Super-G skiing. In the 2018 Winter Olympics, she won the bronze medal for downhill skiing. 

The 2026 Winter Olympics ended on Feb. 22. The 2030 Winter Olympics are projected to start on Feb. 1 and go until Feb. 17. The 2030 Winter Olympics will be held in the French Alps.