Ski Legend Lindsey Vonn to Undergo Fourth Surgery After Olympic Crash

Lindsey Vonn, the 41-year-old American skiing icon who ended her "last dance" with a tragic accident at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, will undergo a fourth surgery.

AP reported on Feb. 14 that Vonn is scheduled to have additional surgery on her left leg fracture at the hospital where she is currently admitted. Vonn has successfully completed three surgeries since the accident and will soon undergo the fourth procedure.

Vonn posted on her social media account: "It has been a huge source of strength. The past few days in the hospital have been quite difficult, but now I feel like I'm gradually finding myself again. I'll have surgery soon. If it goes well, I might be able to go home. However, additional surgeries will be needed after that."

Vonn crashed during the alpine skiing downhill event at the Tofana Alpine Ski Center in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, on Feb. 9. She hit a gate and fell just 13 seconds into the race, and was immediately airlifted to a nearby hospital by helicopter. The Olympic appearance came just nine days after she suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament tear last month. The accident left her tibia shattered into multiple pieces. She received initial treatment in the intensive care unit at a local hospital before being transferred to a larger hospital for surgery and ongoing treatment.

Vonn, who won gold in the downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and bronze at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics before retiring in 2019, returned to competition after receiving a titanium artificial knee joint implant. However, she is not expected to compete again after this event. According to foreign media reports, Vonn's father said, "If I had more say, she would not have competed," adding, "Her career is now over."