Lindsey Vonn says Olympic crash nearly led to leg amputation

Lindsey Vonn said emergency surgery saved her leg from amputation after her Olympic crash

American ski icon Lindsey Vonn has revealed that a devastating crash at the Winter Olympics left her at risk of losing her leg.

The 2010 Olympic downhill champion suffered multiple fractures in her left leg following a fall on February 8 during competition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. She underwent several emergency procedures in Italy before returning to the United States for further surgery.

Colorado-based orthopaedic surgeon Tom Hackett performed a six-hour operation that Vonn said ultimately “saved my leg from being amputated.”

The injury triggered compartment syndrome, a dangerous condition caused by extreme swelling and internal pressure that can cut off blood supply and lead to tissue death.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“When you have so much trauma to one area of your body that there’s too much blood and it gets stuck and it basically crushes everything, muscle, nerves and tendons all die,” Vonn explained in an Instagram post, where she shared images and video from her recovery.

Doctors surgically opened both sides of her leg to relieve pressure and prevent permanent damage. Vonn later confirmed she had been discharged from hospital but faces a long rehabilitation ahead.

The 41-year-old had come out of retirement last winter after nearly six years away from competition and returned in strong form, earning seven podium finishes in eight World Cup races this season, including two victories. Despite suffering a damaged ligament in her left knee in January, she pushed through to compete at the Olympics.

Now in a wheelchair after also breaking her right ankle in the crash, Vonn said recovery will be a lengthy process. She expects it will take about a year for her bones to fully heal as she works toward progressing from a wheelchair to crutches in the coming weeks.

“It’s been really hard and not the way I wanted to end the Olympics,” she said. “But no regrets. I worked so hard to get back — this year was so worth it.”