Cristiano Ronaldo has sent an emotional message to Lindsey Vonn after the US athlete revealed she nearly lost her leg in a ski crash at the Winter Olympics, reports BritPanorama.
The 41-year-old veteran, who was returning to the sport after five years, suffered a horrific crash while competing at Milano-Cortina. She was airlifted to a hospital where she underwent multiple surgeries before finally being discharged.
Vonn, who revealed her leg was nearly amputated after the crash, has been flooded with messages from across the sporting world, including legendary footballer Ronaldo. Taking to social media, the iconic athlete wrote: “Champions are defined by the moments they win, and the moments they refuse to give up. @lindseyvonn the mountains you conquered were never bigger than the strength you carry. Keep fighting. Legends always rise.”
Among other athletes to offer their words to the recovering Olympian was Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who added: “Giving up is not an option.” Vonn shared her harrowing experience in an Instagram video posted on Monday, disclosing that her doctor, Tom Hackett, performed a fasciotomy to save her leg from amputation following her accident just 13 seconds into her run on February 8.
Dr Hackett, an orthopaedic surgeon working for Team USA, addressed the life-threatening complication during a six-hour reconstructive operation, which Vonn described as having gone “amazingly well.” She explained, “I was in the hospital a little longer than I hoped because I had very low haemoglobin from the blood loss from all the surgeries. I was really struggling, the pain was a little bit out of control and I had to have a blood transfusion.”
After nearly a fortnight confined to a hospital bed with extremely limited mobility, the skiing star has now been transferred to a hotel. She cheerfully remarked, “It’s not home yet, but it’s a huge step!” Ronaldo, known for his longevity in football, has recently returned to the Al-Nassr lineup following a strike and scored two goals in a 4–0 victory over Al Hazem on February 21, aiming to head to the World Cup with the Portuguese squad in the summer.
In moments like these, the intersection of sport and resilience becomes evident, as both athletes navigate their own challenges, underscoring the spirit of determination that defines elite competition.
