American ski star Lindsey Vonn has gone under the knife a third time after breaking her leg in the crash which dashed her hopes of Winter Olympics glory.
On Wednesday, Vonn wrote on Instagram that the surgery was a success, following two other operations to stabilise what on Monday she called a “complex tibia fracture” in her left leg.
“I had the third surgery today and it was successful,” Vonn said alongside a photo of her in her bed at the Ca’ Foncello hospital in Treviso.
“Success today had a completely different meaning than it did a few days ago. I’m making progress and while it is slow, I know I’ll be OK.”
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The photo also shows the external fixation device put in place to stabilise what Vonn has already described as a “complex tibia fracture” that she suffered just seconds into her medal bid in the women’s downhill final at the Milan-Cortina Games.
“Thankful for all of the incredible medical staff, friends, family, who have been by my side and the beautiful outpouring of love and support from people around the world,” she continued.
“Also, huge congrats to my teammates and all of the Team USA athletes who are out there inspiring me and giving me something to cheer for.”
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Vonn, the 2010 Olympic downhill champion, was making an audacious attempt for a medal after suffering a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee last month.
The American had resumed her career in late 2024 after nearly six years in retirement and was considered a strong favourite for the downhill at the Winter Olympics before she suffered the ACL injury in a crash in Crans Montana, Switzerland.
Despite that, she impressed in her training runs, hitting a top speed of 119 km/h, but it all went terribly wrong for Vonn in the main event. Just 14 seconds into her run, she clipped a gate with one of her ski poles which sent her tumbling down the hill, fracturing the same leg in which she ruptured an ACL.
She was left prone on the mountain and required medical assistance including a stretcher to recover.
A helicopter was sent to rescue her due to the difficulty of accessing the course as fans in the stands saluted her with loud applause.
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