American alpine skier Lindsey Vonn's comeback to competitive skiing in 2024 took a dramatic and unfortunate turn during the Olympic downhill final in Milan Cortina on February 8. Vonn, 41, crashed just days after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the same knee, sustaining a complex tibia fracture in her left leg and other severe injuries. She was airlifted from the course and has since undergone multiple surgeries and extensive medical treatment.
Pre-Olympic Context and Injury
Lindsey Vonn, a highly decorated athlete with an Olympic gold medal, three Olympic medals, eight world championship medals, and 84 World Cup victories, had retired from the sport in 2019 due to a series of debilitating injuries. Her return to competitive skiing in 2024 followed a robotically-assisted partial replacement surgery on her right knee. Prior to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, Vonn had achieved podium finishes in all five World Cup races she competed in during the season, including two victories, and was leading the World Cup downhill standings.
On January 30, approximately nine days before the Olympic downhill final, Vonn suffered a completely ruptured ACL in her left knee during a World Cup race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. The incident involved her losing control after landing a jump and impacting safety nets, leading to her being airlifted for medical evaluation. Despite the severity of the injury, Vonn chose to compete in the Olympics without undergoing surgery, utilizing a brace for support. She completed two successful training runs on the Tofane course, reaching speeds of up to 78 mph, and stated that her knee felt stable and not swollen.
Vonn acknowledged that her medal chances were reduced but expressed her determination to participate.
Olympic Downhill Race and Crash
The Olympic downhill final took place on Sunday, February 8, on the Tofane course in Cortina d'Ampezzo. Vonn, starting as the 13th competitor, crashed approximately 13 seconds into her run. Video footage and Vonn's own account indicated that her right arm caught a race gate, causing her to twist and fall. She stated that her line was "5 inches too tight" and denied that her pre-existing ACL injury contributed to the crash.
Vonn stated that her line was "5 inches too tight" and denied that her pre-existing ACL injury contributed to the crash.
Following the fall, medics attended to Vonn for over 10 minutes before she was airlifted from the course by helicopter. The race was subsequently paused for approximately 20 minutes. Vonn's U.S. teammate, Breezy Johnson, went on to win the gold medal in the event, with Germany's Emma Aicher securing silver and Italy's Sofia Goggia earning bronze.
Injuries, Medical Treatment, and Recovery
Immediately after the crash, Vonn was transported to a hospital in Treviso, Italy. She was initially diagnosed with a complex tibia fracture in her left leg, the same leg where she had ruptured her ACL. Subsequent medical evaluations revealed additional injuries, including a fracture of her fibula head, a tibial plateau fracture, and a broken right ankle.
Vonn also developed compartment syndrome, a serious condition involving excessive pressure buildup within muscle compartments. An emergency fasciotomy procedure was performed by an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Tom Hackett, to alleviate the pressure and restore blood flow to her leg. Vonn reported significant blood loss and required a transfusion.
She underwent multiple surgeries, initially in Italy, where an external fixator was used to stabilize the fracture. Following her return to the United States, Vonn underwent further operations, including a six-hour surgery involving plates and screws to reconstruct her leg and manage skin coverage.
Medical professionals described her injuries as her "most extreme, painful, and challenging" to date, noting that the tibia is a bone that heals slowly.
Vonn was immobile in a hospital bed for over a week and is currently using a wheelchair. Orthopedic experts indicate that recovery to normal walking could take several months, with the tibia typically requiring six to nine months to heal. Further surgery for her ACL rupture is expected after the tibia has healed, extending her overall recovery timeline. While complex tibia fractures present significant challenges for high-level athletic return, medical professionals note that Vonn's physical conditioning, mental resilience, and access to top medical care are factors that may facilitate her recovery.
Statements and Future Outlook
Vonn has returned to the United States and is out of the hospital, focusing on her rehabilitation. She has stated that she nearly lost her left leg due to compartment syndrome and described the experience as extremely painful. Despite the outcome, Vonn expressed no regrets about her comeback or her decision to compete in the Olympics with her pre-existing injury.
"Standing in the starting gate with a chance to win was a victory in and of itself," Vonn stated.
Her father, Alan Kildow, suggested that this injury should mark the conclusion of her competitive ski racing career, citing her age and the severity of the new injury. Vonn, however, has expressed determination in her recovery process, aiming to progress from a wheelchair to crutches and stating her commitment to rehabilitation. Her participation in other Olympic events, such as the super-G and combined team competition, became unlikely following the crash.