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Olympic Skier Vonn's Leg Saved from Amputation
9 Mar
Summary
- Lindsey Vonn suffered a severe injury during the 2026 Winter Olympics.
- A doctor performed a fasciotomy, saving her leg from amputation.
- Vonn is undergoing rigorous physical therapy to recover.
Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn is currently undergoing a challenging recovery following a devastating injury sustained on February 8, 2026, during the Winter Olympics in Italy. The accident, which occurred just seconds into her run, involved a torn ACL and resulted in a severe injury that doctors feared might necessitate amputation.
Dr. Tom Hackett performed a critical fasciotomy surgery, cutting open both sides of Vonn's leg to allow it to 'breathe,' thereby saving her limb from potential amputation. This was followed by a six-hour surgery to rebuild her leg, which Vonn reported went "amazingly well."
As of March 9, 2026, Vonn is still unable to stand unaided and is undergoing extensive physical therapy. Videos posted on her Instagram show her working out in the gym, demonstrating her commitment to regaining her strength. She has expressed gratitude for the medical team who saved her leg.
During her recovery, Vonn also reflected on losing her No. 1 world ranking. She acknowledged that while achieving the title was a goal, her immediate focus is on healing and returning to health, emphasizing a "one day at a time" approach.
