American skier Lindsey Vonn almost lost her left leg after falling in the downhill at the 2026 Olympics. The veteran revealed on Instagram that her injuries were much more serious than a simple broken pipe.
Vonn stated that trauma from the fall led to compartment syndrome in her leg. He rests in an excessive increase in pressure inside the muscle, either due to bleeding or swelling. High pressure stops the flow of blood and oxygen to the muscles and nerves. If the pressure is not relieved in time (usually within 6 hours), the tissue begins to die and the necrosis can then lead to permanent disability or even amputation of the leg.
Holder of gold in downhill and bronze in super-G from the 2010 Olympics and bronze in downhill from the 2018 Olympics she credited Dr. Tom Hackett, the orthopedic surgeon who works with her and the American team, for performing the fasciotomy. It was this operation that saved her leg. “He completely cut it open, let it breathe and saved me,” the DPA agency quoted the two-time world champion.
Hackett was in Cortina only because of her, as she went to the Olympics after injuring her anterior cruciate ligament. “If I hadn’t been injured before, Tom wouldn’t have been there and wouldn’t have been able to save my leg,” said Vonn, who also broke her right ankle in the fall. She also revealed that she has already been released from the hospital.
Holder of four big globes from the World Cup she is currently in a wheelchair and undergoing rehabilitation to be able to use crutches. He assumes that the left leg will take about a year to heal. Only then will the doctors be able to attend to the anterior cruciate ligament, which she tore before the Olympics.
“It’s going to be a long road. I always fight and we never give up.” stated Vonn, who, according to her own words, has no regrets about returning after six years or about the decision to start at the Olympics. “I wish it would have turned out differently, but I’d rather go down fighting than not try at all. I think what I’ve been able to achieve has been more than anyone expected at the beginning. This season has been incredible and worth it all,“ continued the current leader of the overall ranking of the SP congress.
She likened her injuries to “one little blip on the radar.” She gave no details about her further racing career, although her father, Alan Kildow, told The Associated Press shortly after the accident that he wished she would end it. “Life is life and we have to take the blows that come. I’m dealing with this one as best I can. It really knocked me down, but I’m like Rocky, I always get back up.” added Vonn.
