Lindsey Vonn, the renowned alpine ski racer, has commenced her ninth surgical procedure as she continues to recuperate from a series of injuries sustained prior to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. The 42-year-old athlete underwent the operation on 9 November, aiming to address extensive damage to her left leg, following both a significant accident and an earlier injury.
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Vonn’s troubles began just a week before the Olympics when she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a World Cup event. Despite her setback, she chose to compete at the Olympics, only to endure a catastrophic crash during her downhill race on 8 February. The incident saw her snagging a ski pole on a course flag, leading to a complex tibial fracture which necessitated immediate medical attention.
Emergency services airlifted Vonn to a hospital in Treviso, Italy, where she underwent four surgeries to stabilise her injuries. After completing the initial phase of her treatment, she returned to the United States for additional procedures. While Vonn was able to engage in workouts, attend various award ceremonies, and even travel across Europe in recent months, she has remained focused on her recovery.
In an Instagram post, Vonn expressed her mixed feelings about the surgery, stating, “This day has been looming on my calendar for a while now… and the time has finally come.” She described a sense of nervousness and anticipation surrounding the operation, hoping it would mark the final chapter of her rehabilitation journey.
Vonn’s surgery involved the removal of the plates and screws previously inserted to secure her fractured tibia. Additionally, she intends to replace the ACL that she tore just before the Olympics. “We’re just basically removing all the hardware so we can put in a new ACL, because I don’t have an ACL still,” Vonn explained. She detailed the complications resulting from the presence of the hardware, which had hindered the replacement of her ACL earlier in her recovery process.
Following the surgery, Vonn anticipates a recovery period of six to nine months. This timeline is standard for an ACL reconstruction, but she highlighted the challenges posed by the need to heal the holes left in her bones after the removal of the screws and plates. “But fingers crossed,” she added optimistically.
In her post, Vonn reassured her followers that she would provide updates on her recovery progress after the surgery, acknowledging the unpredictability of the procedure. “There are still things that could change in surgery, so we will have to wait and see how it goes,” she noted, expressing her gratitude for the support she has received over the past months.
In a recent interview with PEOPLE prior to her surgery, Vonn expressed her eagerness to move forward and leave the ordeal behind her. She reflected on her participation in the L’Oreal Paris show in September, where she felt empowered enough to display her scars, only to face the prospect of reopening them. “Back to square one, but it’s okay. It happens. It’s life. We’ll move forward,” she concluded on a hopeful note.
As Vonn takes this significant step in her recovery, fans and supporters alike have flooded her social media feeds with well-wishes, highlighting the impact she has made as an athlete and public figure. Her resilience and determination are traits that have defined her illustrious career, and many will be watching closely as she embarks on this latest chapter of her journey toward recovery.
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