Decorated US skier Lindsey Vonn is still working through what comes next.
Months after her devastating crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Vonn said she's not ready — physically or emotionally — to decide whether or not she'll compete again.
"I just don't want to jump to any conclusions or even speculate on what I might do," Vonn told the Associated Press. "I may retire, I may never race again, and that would be completely fine, but I'm not in a position emotionally to make that decision at this point."
The crash came just 13 seconds into the women's downhill in Cortina, with Vonn suffering a complex tibia fracture and compartment syndrome. The injuries required eight surgeries, with at least one more procedure still needed to repair a torn ACL in her left knee.
While Vonn has returned from injuries before, the 41-year-old said this one stands out.
"It's a much different injury," she continued. "I could have lost my leg... I can deal with a lot of pain, but this was so extreme. It's not even been in the universe of pain with this injury as what I've had before.”
The recovery, she explained, has been as mental as it's been physical.
Transitioning from a wheelchair to crutches, Vonn said her timeline remains uncertain. She has not yet discussed a potential return to skiing with her doctors, instead focusing on day-to-day recovery.
"I'm still, like I said, in survival mode that I just want to get through this phase and be able to assess where I am in my life," she said.
And for now, that means holding off on any major decisions.
"I don't want to make a decision now, because I think that would be rash and probably too emotional," Vonn said. "I don't want to make a mistake."
Lindsey Vonn is still weighing her future options after her Olympic crash, saying she has not ruled out a return to skiing following her season-ending injury in Cortina.
Vonn crashed early in the women's downhill at the 2026 Winter Olympics, suffering a complex tibia fracture and compartment syndrome. That fall ended what had been a strong comeback season, with Vonn sitting atop the downhill standings entering the Games.
The crash punctuated a career defined by pushing her limits. The US skiing star competed despite tearing her ACL in a World Cup crash just nine days before the event. After that incident, she chose to race on the sport's biggest stage one more time.
Now, her focus has shifted to recovery — and what comes next.
"I can move on," Vonn told Craig Melvin in a recent TODAY interview. "It's not a question of can I, I already have... I know what it's like to not be a ski racer anymore."
Still, she has not ruled out another run.
"I don't know the answer to that question," she said. "I know I'll be happy if I do ski race again... It might be fun to do one more — one more run."
That possibility remains in play as she works through rehabbing her Olympic crash injury. In the interview, Vonn reported spending hours each day in physical therapy, the gym, and specialized treatment.
"On repeat," she said. "Every day."
The crash also shifted how Vonn views her legacy, as the 41-year-old resists being pinned down by that fateful moment in Cortina.
"I don't want 13 seconds to define my career because it's so much more than that," she said.
Vonn returned to competition in 2024 after briefly retiring in 2019, building back into form before this year's Olympic setback. Her resume already includes three Olympic medals and 84 World Cup wins.
What's Next for Lindsey Vonn After her Olympic Crash
While she's not ruling anything out, Vonn's next step depends on her continued recovery.
"I can't say what the future holds," she said. "My mind can't get there yet."
Mikaela Shiffrin is opening up about the moment that helped her reset before winning Olympic slalom gold in Milano-Cortina.
Speaking on TODAY, Shiffrin said she had an “almost out-of-body experience” at the start-gate before her second run. The moment came after she watched the skier ahead of her miss a gate, bringing her back to her disappointing performance at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
“My biggest fear going into the Games was that I would feel really isolated and alone,” Shiffrin said.
But, thanks to her team, that’s not how she felt on the Italian slopes last month.
“They made me feel very supported and feel very together,”
Shiffrin said of her backers. “It felt like they were skiing it with me.”
The 31-year-old went on to complete a clean second run and top the Olympic slalom podium, earning her third career individual gold medal. The victory only padded Shiffrin’s already-stacked resume, which spans a record 110 World Cup wins and a record-tying six overall World Cup titles.
Will Olympic Skier Mikaela Shiffrin Compete in the Next Winter Olympics?
While she remains at the top of her game, questions still surround Shiffrin’s future — especially when it comes to participating in the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps.
“We look forward to seeing you at the next Winter Olympics,” TODAY anchor Craig Melvin told her with a smile, closing out the interview.
“Very good, Very good. We’ll talk later,” she laughed.
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."
Ski mountaineering made history on Thursday, as Switzerland's Marianne Fatton won the sport's first-ever Olympic gold after claiming the women's sprint title in Bormio, Italy.
Fatton finished with a time of 2:59.77 to beat favorite Emily Harrop of France. Harrop earned silver in 3:02.15, finishing 2.38 seconds behind, while Spain's Ana Alonso Rodriguez captured bronze with a time of 3:10.22.
Harrop had posted the fastest time heading into the final at 3:03.34 after winning both her heat and semifinal. But reigning world champion Fatton managed to capitalize on Harrop's slower transitions to win the final.
Ski mountaineering, often called "skimo," requires athletes to ascend mountains both on skis and on foot before a downhill race decides the winner. The women's sprint featured three ascent stages, with athletes starting with skis attached before removing them to tackle the course on foot. They subsequently reattach their skis for another ascent, later stripping off the skins for the final descent.
Snowy conditions at the Stelvio Ski Centre made conditions particularly challenging for athletes, as they showcased ski mountaineering to Olympic audiences for the first time. The International Ski Mountaineering Federation was founded in 2007 and gained IOC recognition in 2016.
"It's a magical day," the 30-year-old said after Thursday's win. "It's history for our sport, and for us as athletes, and it's wonderful."
Team USA's star ski duo came up short in the first-ever Olympic women's team combined on Tuesday morning, as Breezy Johnson and Mikaela Shiffrin fell 0.06 seconds off the podium with a fourth-place finish.
Coincidentally, Johnson initially gave Shiffrin an exact 0.06-second edge by winning the two-event competition's downhill opener to put the favored US pair squarely into medal contention — but Shiffrin's 15th-place slalom run failed to finish the job.
Notably, Shiffrin was one of only 18 slalom skiers able to complete the course on Tuesday morning, as difficult conditions saw the other eight unable to even finish their team combined runs.
Despite Johnson and Shiffrin's performance, Team USA still found its way onto the event's debut podium, as second-team skiers Jacqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan took bronze behind Austria's gold medalists Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber and German silver medalists Kira Weidle-Winkelmann and Emma Aicher.
Wiles, who missed Sunday's downhill podium by just 0.27 seconds, not only joined Moltzan in earning a first-ever Olympic medal on Tuesday morning, the 33-year-old also surpassed US legend Lindsey Vonn by becoming the oldest woman alpine skier to ever medal at the Olympics.
Tuesday's loss aside, Johnson's breakout run continues after the 30-year-old secured downhill gold on Sunday, while Shiffrin — the world's most decorated alpine skier — is still seeking her first Olympic medal since the 2018 PyeongChang Games.
How to watch Breezy Johnson, Mikaela Shiffrin at the Winter Olympics
Women's alpine action returns with the Super-G race on Thursday, with Johnson back on the slopes when the event starts at 5:30 AM ET on USA Network.
Shiffrin's Olympic run continues with Sunday's giant slalom race, which begins initial runs at 4 AM ET on USA Network before NBC broadcasts the medal round live at 7:30 AM ET.
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.
Freestyle skier Eileen Gu will defend her titles at the 2026 Winter Olympics this weekend, competing in halfpipe, slopestyle, and big air. But the 22-year-old San Francisco native, who represents China internationally, has also emerged as the Winter Games' highest-paid athlete.
According to Sportico, Gu brought in approximately $23 million in 2025, making her the world's fourth-highest-paid women's sports athlete and topping all Winter Olympic competitors. However, just $100,000 of her earnings came from skiing. Endorsement deals with Red Bull, Porsche, and Tiffany, plus Chinese companies like Anta Sports and TCL, account for the vast majority of her income.
“There is a massive audience out there for a Chinese athlete with global appeal,” former US Olympic Committe CMO Rick Burton told Sportico.
“Gu checks all the marketability boxes and has so much going for her. Cross-cultural appeal, Olympic champion, young and dynamic.”
Eileen Gu made history in 2022 as the first Olympic freestyle skier to medal three times. In Beijing, she captured gold in big air and halfpipe while also winning silver in slopestyle. At just 18, she became the youngest-ever Olympic freestyle skiing champion.
In January 2025, Gu achieved her 20th career World Cup victory at the Laax Open, becoming the first-ever freestyle skier to reach the milestone. Now she shoots for Olympic slopestyle gold — the only medal that's eluded her.
Off the slopes, Gu studies international relations at Stanford University, where she also takes quantum physics classes. She also models for major brands including Louis Vuitton and Victoria's Secret, contributing to her growing income.
How to watch Eileen Gu at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Gu opens her Olympic campaign on February 7th with slopestyle qualifiers. She next competes in big air on February 14th and halfpipe on February 19th.
All events will air live across Peacock and NBC.
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.