Lindsey Vonn has undergone two surgical procedures on her left leg following a serious crash during the women’s downhill at the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics, according to sources cited by Reuters and La Repubblica.
The 41-year-old American skier suffered a major fracture after falling around 13 seconds into her run on Sunday. The crash ended her attempt to win another Olympic medal despite racing with a fully ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.
Vonn was airlifted from Cortina d’Ampezzo to Ca’ Foncello Hospital in Treviso, about 80 miles away. Doctors there carried out two operations aimed at stabilising her condition and preventing complications linked to swelling and blood circulation, a source told Reuters.
The surgical team included Italian orthopaedic and plastic surgeons. Vonn’s personal physician attended the procedures but assisted only, with local specialists leading the operations.
Hospital officials initially confirmed one procedure on Sunday but did not disclose the second at the time. A planned medical update on Monday morning did not take place.
International Ski Federation president Johan Eliasch said the responsibility lies with the athlete. “I firmly believe that this has to be decided by the individual,” he told reporters. He described the accident as rare, saying Vonn became caught on a gate while airborne.
Vonn entered the downhill less than two weeks after sustaining the ACL injury during a World Cup race in Switzerland. She acknowledged the risk before the event and said she intended to compete regardless of the outcome.
Her coach, Aksel Lund Svindal, shared details of their exchange after the crash. Writing on Instagram, he said Vonn’s first concern focused on her teammate. “Say congratulations and well done to Breezy,” he recalled her saying before the helicopter flight to hospital.
HT