Lindsey Vonn reveals injury details following Olympic crash
Lindsey Vonn has spoken for the first time since her devastating crash during Sunday’s Olympic downhill final in Cortina, disclosing that she sustained a complex tibia fracture, reports BritPanorama.
The 41-year-old American skiing icon addressed her injury on Instagram, stating it is “currently stable” but will require several surgical procedures for proper healing. She has already undergone two operations since the accident, which necessitated her airlift from the mountain.
The incident occurred during a historic competition, marking Vonn as the oldest woman ever to compete in an Olympic alpine skiing event. In her statement, Vonn strongly clarified that previous knee injuries were not a factor in her crash. “My ACL and past injuries had nothing to do with my crash whatsoever,” she explained.
Vonn attributed her fall to a minor error in her racing line, noting, “I was simply 5 inches too tight on my line when my right arm hooked inside of the gate, twisting me and resulted in my crash.” The three-time Olympic medallist highlighted the narrow margin between success and injury in downhill skiing, pointing out that small adjustments can lead to significant consequences.
Images from the event show Vonn colliding with a ski gate while airborne, with her right arm caught incorrectly on the wrong side of the marker, leading to the accident’s severity. She rotated 180 degrees before crashing onto the slope, her right leg striking the ground first. Spectators in Cortina fell silent as medical personnel rushed to assist the injured athlete, whose skis remained attached throughout.
Despite the traumatic end to her Olympic run, Vonn expressed no regrets regarding her decision to compete. “While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets,” she stated. Acknowledging the inherent risks of her sport, she reflected on the perilous nature of racing in alpine skiing.
Vonn’s journey has epitomised the blend of danger and triumph inherent in the sport, and her message to followers encapsulated this ethos: “I hope if you take away anything from my journey it’s that you all have the courage to dare greatly. Life is too short not to take chances on yourself.” What remains evident is that, much like her racing career, a willingness to confront risks defines both her spirit and the essence of competitive skiing.
