US skier Lindsey Vonn faced a possible left leg amputation after a devastating crash in the downhill event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the decorated star said in a social media video on Monday.
In addition to a broken right ankle and left fibula fracture, Vonn suffered an extremely complex left tibia fracture after clipping a gate mere seconds into her downhill run on February 8th — just days after tearing her left ACL in the leadup to Olympic competition.
In the aftermath of the trauma, the 41-year-old experienced compartment syndrome, a complication in which bleeding or swelling cause significant pressure that, in serious cases, can lead to nerve damage, muscle damage, and even limb loss — necessitating a procedure called a fasciotomy.
Vonn actually credits her torn ACL with saving her leg, as the previous injury was the reason that Team USA orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tom Hackett, who performed the emergency fasciotomy, traveled to Italy with the skier.
"If I hadn't [torn my ACL,] Tom wouldn't have been there. He wouldn't have been able to save my leg," Vonn said. "I feel very lucky and grateful for him."
Following multiple surgeries in both Italy and the US, Vonn is out of the hospital but wheelchair-bound, as the five-time Olympian faces an extended rehabilitation and recovery period that will likely take longer than a year.
"It has been quite the journey and by far the most extreme and painful and challenging injury I've ever faced in my entire life times 100," Vonn explained. "It's going to be a long road."
That said, Vonn has "no regrets" about her fight to return to the Olympic stage.
"I wish it had ended differently, but I'd rather go down swinging than not try at all," she said. "This year was incredible and so worth everything."
US Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn revealed Monday that Sunday's downhill crash left her with a complex tibia bone fracture, requiring multiple surgeries to repair.
The 41-year-old posted the update to Instagram from her hospital room in Treviso, Italy, where she's been recovering since being airlifted off the course in Cortina.
During the crash, Vonn's right arm caught the inside of a gate while she skied five inches too tight on her line, twisting her body and sending her to the ground. In the post, she pushed back against suggestions that her pre-existing injuries played a role, stating her recent ACL tear had nothing to do with the fall.
Vonn tore her left ACL just days before the 2026 Winter Olympics. She chose to compete anyway, subsequently sustaining the tibia bone injury in the same leg. The hospital confirmed Sunday night that she underwent surgery and remains in stable condition.
Despite the fracture's severity, Vonn expressed no regrets regarding her decision to race. She described standing at the start as a victory in itself, and acknowledged the sport's inherent dangers.
Her father, Alan Kildow, took a harder stance.
"She's 41 years old, and this is the end of her career," he told The Associated Press. "There will be no more ski races for Lindsey Vonn, as long as I have anything to say about it."
Kildow and several family members, including Vonn's brother and two sisters, remain by her side in Italy.
Vonn will not return to the Winter Olympics in any capacity, her father confirmed.
The tibia bone is the larger of the two bones in the lower leg. It bears most of the body's weight during athletic activity, making complex fractures particularly difficult to repair and slow to heal.
Team USA captured its first gold medal of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Sunday, when ski star Breezy Johnson became just the second US woman to win the downhill race in a high-speed showdown that saw US skiing legend Lindsey Vonn med-evaced off the Cortina mountain.
Johnson clocked a time of 1:36.10, narrowly edging out German silver medalist Emma Aicher by a mere 0.04 seconds as Italian ski star Sofia Goggia finished just behind the pair to claim bronze.
It wasn't all celebrations for Team USA, however, as emergency medical personnel had to airlift out Vonn, who was competing on a torn ACL.
The 41-year-old clipped a gate, causing her to crash 12.5 seconds into her run, with Vonn later undergoing surgery to repair a broken left leg.
As for Johnson, her path to Olympic gold was as imperfect as her medal: Originally on track to race in Beijing, a knee injury forced the 30-year-old to sit out the 2022 Winter Games, with Johnson later serving a 14-month ban through December 2024 for rule violations including missing three anti-doping tests.
Shortly after her suspension expired, Johnson won a pair of golds at the 2025 World Championships, kicking off a comeback punctuated by Sunday's podium appearance.
"I think that this was the best run Breezy's ever skied," fellow US skier Bella Wright said on Sunday. "I've seen her ski ever since I was eight years old."
How to watch Breezy Johnson at the 2026 Winter Olympics
The women's alpine ski events continue with team combined on Tuesday.
Though the start list remains unconfirmed, Johnson — alongside fellow US star Mikaela Shiffrin — are the reigning world champions in the event, with Team USA expected to put the pair in the spotlight on the Olympic slopes.
The women's team combined kicks off at 4:30 AM ET, airing live on USA Network.
Entering the 2026 Olympics with a newly torn ACL, Team USA skiing icon Lindsey Vonn will race in the women's downhill event on Sunday — with the 41-year-old using it as a test case before committing to additional events at the Winter Games.
Vonn is also hoping to compete in Tuesday's team combined slalom event — possibly alongside fellow US star Mikaela Shiffrin — but the recent knee injury could derail her fifth, and likely final, Winter Olympics run.
"It will be objective performance that will define what our teams look like," USA women's skiing head coach Paul Kristofic clarified. "In the end, my job is to put the best pairings together so we can perform and get a medal and potentially win."
With Vonn's status technically still unclear, Italy is eyeing a home win, as 2018 gold medalist Sofia Goggia teams up with fellow decorated veteran Federica Brignone on Tuesday.
That said, Vonn successfully completed an early Friday training run — on the same Cortina course where she holds a record 12 World Cup wins.
"She was smart. She didn't go all in," said Vonn's coach Aksel Lund Svindal after her 11th-place run. "There was reserves today.... It's going to be hard but I think she could possibly [medal] on Sunday."
"No one would have believed I would be here…but I made it!!" Vonn posted to social media prior to Friday's downhill training. "I'm not going to waste this chance.... Let's go get it!!"
How to watch Lindsey Vonn at the 2026 Winter Olympics downhill event
Vonn will make her 2026 Olympic debut in the women's downhill event at 5:30 AM ET on Sunday, with live coverage airing on USA Network.
The comeback story for Team USA skier Lindsey Vonn isn't over yet, as the 41-year-old announced on Tuesday that she'll hit the slopes at the 2026 Winter Olympics despite tearing her ACL last week.
Vonn said she "completely ruptured" her left ACL while also suffering bone bruising and meniscus damage during last Friday's FIS World Cup downhill event in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, but added tht she's still able to ski with a knee brace.
"My knee is not swollen, and with the help of a knee brace, I am confident that I can compete on Sunday," Vonn told reporters. "I will do everything in my power to be in the starting gate."
Amid one of the biggest comeback seasons in alpine skiing history, Vonn expressed comfort with overcoming adversity — even if it's for the last time.
"This would be the best comeback I've done so far," Vonn said, after recovering from a previous ACL injury and subsequent surgery more than 10 years ago. "Definitely the most dramatic."
In addition to her signature downhill event, the three-time Olympic medalist voiced interest in participating in the Super G and a new combined team event.
How to watch Lindsey Vonn at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Vonn will open her Milano-Cortina campaign in the women's downhill at 5:30 AM ET on Sunday, airing live on Peacock.
The 2026 Winter Olympics have officially arrived. After years of planning, the world's best on snow and ice are descending upon Northern Italy for the Milano-Cortina Games.
And in addition to all the normal reasons to celebrate, the 2026 Olympics will feature a record-breaking 47% participation rate for women's sports athletes — the largest in Winter Games history.
From the streets of Milan to the peaks of Cortina d'Ampezzo, here is everything you need to know about the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The Basics: 2026 Winter Olympics Schedule in Milano-Cortina
Dates
The Winter Olympics schedule runs from February 6th through February 22nd, 2026, with preliminary ice hockey matches beginning February 4th.
Location
The Winter Games will take over Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, with additional venues in Valtellina, Val di Fiemme, and Anterselva.
Time Difference
Italy is six hours ahead of New York (ET) and nine hours ahead of Los Angeles (PT).
Opening and Closing Ceremonies
The Opening Ceremony takes place on February 6th at Milan's San Siro Stadium, with the Closing Ceremony capping things off at the historic Verona Arena on February 22nd.
Women's Sports Stars and Storylines Headlining the Winter Olympics Schedule
From figure skating to ice hockey, here are the buzziest Olympic names and most compelling narratives playing out in Milan.
Mikaela Shiffrin (USA, Alpine Skiing)
The sport's undisputed GOAT enters the 2026 Games as the winningest alpine skier of all time. And after a dominant 2025 season, Mikaela Shiffrin has emerged as the gold-medal favorite in both the Slalom and Giant Slalom events. According to the Winter Olympics schedule, alpine skiing runs February 8th through the 22nd at Cortina's Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre. Tune in to see if she can add to her growing legacy as the most decorated skier in history.
Lindsey Vonn (USA, Alpine Skiing)
The most talked-about comeback in sports is finally hitting the Olympic stage. At 41, Lindsey Vonn has overcome the odds — and a partial knee replacement — to return to the slopes in winning fashion. To complicate matters, Vonn tore her ACL just last week, but the five-time Olympian says she'll still compete despite the injury. Regardless of her performance in Milan, her presence alone has already redefined perceptions of veteran athletes in high-impact sports.
Chloe Kim (USA, Snowboarding)
25-year-old Team USA favorite Chloe Kim is chasing a historic three-peat in the women's snowboard halfpipe. Already the first women's snowboarder to win back-to-back golds in the event, Kim remains the technical standard-bearer for the sport — though her performance in Milan might hinge on her health, as she continues to recover from a recent shoulder injury. The snowboarding competition runs February 8th through the 16th in Livigno.
Eileen Gu (China, Freestyle Skiing)
Following a triple-medal performance in Beijing, China's Eileen Gu returns to the Games as a global icon. With high marks in Halfpipe, Slopestyle, and Big Air, the 22-year-old remains one of the most versatile — and promising — threats on powder.
Amber Glenn (USA, Figure Skating)
Known for explosive athleticism, captivating storytelling, and a powerful triple Axel, Amber Glenn is a cornerstone of the US figure skating team. Becoming the first openly queer woman to win a senior US title after picking up gold at the 2026 US Championships, Glenn's journey to the 2026 Games makes for especially good TV and even better on-ice competition. Figure skating events take place February 7th through the 21st at Milano Ice Skating Arena.
Kaori Sakamoto (Japan, Figure Skating)
The reigning queen of consistency, Kaori Sakamoto is a widely expected contender in the women's figure skating field. Armed with immense speed and technical precision, the 25-year-old enters 2026 looking to add an elusive individual gold medal to her resume.
Women's Ice Hockey
Marking the first Winter Olympics of the PWHL era, expect rosters across the field to be deeper and more game-ready than ever before. Most storylines will undoubtedly revolve around Canada and Team USA's heated rivalry, led by longtime captains Hilary Knight (USA) and Marie-Philip Poulin (Canada).
But count on European powerhouses like Finland and Czechia to close the competitive gap thanks to the sport's overall professionalization. Women's ice hockey is set to take over the Winter Olympics schedule from February 5th through the 19th.
New Events Debuting at the 2026 Winter Games
The IOC introduced several new medal events this year, primarily in an effort to improve gender parity throughout the Games.
Ski Mountaineering (AKA Skimo)
A high-endurance sport that involves racing up mountains on skis using specialized skins for grip, covering steep terrain on foot, and cruising quickly through backcountry.
Women's Individual Large Hill (AKA Ski Jumping)
This February, women's sports athletes will additionally compete on the same high-altitude, long-distance jump hills as the men's event, moving beyond the traditional Normal Hill.
Women's Doubles Luge
This sled racing event features two women sharing a single sled, navigating an icy track at speeds exceeding 80 MPH.
Freestyle Dual Moguls
This freestyle skiing event showcases two athletes racing side-by-side down a mogul-studded slope, picking up points for speed, technical turns, and aerial tricks in a head-to-head knockout format.
How to Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina
NBC and Peacock have signed on as the exclusive broadcasters of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Peacock will offer 24-hour livestreamed coverage of the complete Winter Olympics schedule, while NBC and USA Network subsequently handle primetime action as well as highlights.
A Lindsey Vonn crash during Friday's World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland has cast doubt on the skiing legend's Olympic participation just one week before the opening ceremony in Milan.
The crash occurred when the 41-year-old US skiing legend lost control landing a jump on the upper portion of the course, becoming entangled in safety nets. She was the race's third skier to suffer and injury, as falling snow led to poor visibility.
After receiving approximately five minutes of medical attention on the course, Vonn skied slowly to the finish line, stopping multiple times and clutching her left knee. The crash subsequently canceled the race.
Medical personnel airlifted Vonn off the slopes, with the skier suspended from a hoist cable. International Ski and Snowboard Federation CEO Urs Lehmann confirmed Vonn injured her knee but said the severity remained unclear.
Before entering the medical tent, Vonn shared an embrace with US teammate Jacqueline Wiles, who was leading when officials halted the competition. Vonn appeared visibly distressed during the emotional moment.
The Lindsey Vonn crash comes in the midst of the veteran skier's comeback season. After nearly six years away from competitive skiing, Vonn returned last season at age 40 with a partial titanium implant in her right knee. This season, she has dominated downhill racing with two victories and seven podium finishes in eight World Cup starts across downhill and super-G events.
Vonn holds the record for most World Cup victories in Olympic host location Cortina d'Ampezzo with 12 wins. Her first Olympic race is scheduled for February 8th, with plans to also compete in the super-G and a new combined team event.
The Lindsey Vonn crash occurred seven days before the Opening Ceremony in Milan-Cortina, raising serious questions about her 2026 Winter Olympics participation.
Team USA is coming in hot, releasing their full 232-player 2026 Olympic roster as the largest US contingent in history gears up for February's Winter Games in Italy.
"Right and left, we have just so many people able to get on the podium at these Games," said speed skater Erin Jackson, as she gears up to defend her 500-meter gold medal in her third Olympic appearance. "I'm really excited."
Between the men's and women's events, 98 of the participating US athletes are returning Olympians, including 33 previous podium finishers — 18 of them gold medalists.
Even more, seven members of Team USA are entering their fifth Winter Games, including decorated alpine skier Lindsey Vonn, hockey captain Hilary Knight, snowboarder Faye Thelen, and bobsled teammates Kaillie Armbruster Humphries and Elana Meyers Taylor.
"I think my age is a big advantage actually," Vonn told reporters. "I have been in that start gate more than anyone else that's in the starting gate."
Meanwhile, the 134 fresh faces will look to have an immediate impact on the Olympic medal table for Team USA, including athletes like 20-year-old Stanford soccer defender and US cross-country skiier Sammy Smith and 15-year-old halfpipe freestyle skiier Abby Winterberger — the youngest member of the 2026 US roster.
How to watch Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics
The 2026 Winter Olympics officially kick off in Italy on February 6th, though a few events — including curling and women's hockey — will get underway on February 4th and 5th.
Full live coverage of the 2026 Olympic Games will air in the US across NBC platforms.
Alpine skiing champion Lindsey Vonn has officially partnered with medical apparel brand FIGS as both an investor and a brand ambassador this week, as the US icon prepares for her fifth Olympic Games next month.
The collaboration centers on a "Healthcare Athlete" campaign, highlighting the physical and mental stamina required by medical professionals.
Lindsey Vonn cited her own medical history as motivation for the partnership. Over her 19-year alpine skiing career, Vonn underwent more than 10 surgeries and extensive rehabilitation. The experiences subsequently provided her with a unique perspective on issues faced by her healthcare team.
"I’ve spent as much time in hospitals as I have on the mountains," Vonn stated in Monday’s press release.
"I have seen firsthand how hard healthcare professionals work and the physical toll it takes. They are athletes in every sense of the word, and they deserve apparel that is built for performance."
FIGS has modernized the medical uniform industry via high-performance scrubs designed for long shifts. The Lindsey Vonn collaboration aims to emphasize the gear’s technical aspects and while celebrating healthcare workers’ resilience.
Vonn’s FIGS investment adds to her growing portfolio of business ventures, a lineup that spans health, wellness, and entrepreneurship as she prepares to become the oldest downhill skier in Winter Olympics history.
"When I retired in 2019, I didn’t think I’d ever race again," she said.
"My Mako partial knee replacement changed everything, and my medical team was there every step of the way, from when I started to casually ski again, and then deciding to come back to ski racing. Having a medical team that supported my goals was crucial. Every record and podium is built on years of unseen effort, and healthcare professionals are the ones who help create that foundation."
Team USA will see 97 skiers and snowboarders representing the red, white, and blue in Milan next month, with US Ski & Snowboard tapping a wealth of veteran experience for the 2026 Winter Olympic roster on Thursday.
All-time winningest FIS World Cup skier Mikaela Shiffrin will compete in her fourth Winter Games, with the 30-year-old two-time Olympic gold medalist hunting hardware in her preferred slalom event after failing to medal in Beijing in 2022.
At the same time, 41-year-old skier Lindsey Vonn is also mounting a dramatic comeback, participating in her fifth Olympics after winning multiple downhill medals on this season's World Cup circuit.
Also returning to the Olympic stage will be 25-year-old halfpipe star Chloe Kim, who is officially clear to return to competition after a recent shoulder dislocation put her Milan plans to become the first snowboarder to win three straight Olympic gold medals in jeopardy.
Alongside the deep veteran talent on the roster, US Ski & Snowboard is sending 48 athletes to make their Olympic debuts next month, including 15-year-old halfpipe freestyle skiier Abby Winterberger and 20-year-old two-sport talent Sammy Smith.
Smith, a Stanford sophomore and starting defender for the 2025 College Cup runner-up Cardinal soccer team, will compete in cross-country skiing for Team USA in Milan.
Considering 15 of the 25 US Olympic medals at the 2022 Beijing Games came from ski and snowboarding, US snowboard program director Rick Bower noted that, "In many ways, making this team is even harder than [competing in] the Olympics themselves."