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41-year-old Lindsey Vonn has been one of the most talked-about athletes leading up to the Winter Olympics in Italy — and for good reason. She’s not only one of the most successful U.S. Olympians in her sport, but she also tore her ACL just a week before the games during a World Cup run in Switzerland.
That didn’t stop her. She completed two practice runs on the Friday and Saturday leading up to the downhill competition. Unfortunately, just seconds into her run on Sunday with everything on the line, she suffered a horrific fall and was airlifted to a hospital, where she underwent two surgeries for a complex tibia fracture.
On Wednesday, Vonn revealed she had completed a third surgery on her leg and shared a powerful message along with photos from her hospital bed.
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"I had my 3rd surgery today and it was successful," Vonn wrote. "Success today has a completely different meaning than it did a few days ago. I’m making progress and while it is slow, I know I’ll be ok. Thankful for all of the incredible medical staff, friends, family, who have been by my side and the beautiful outpouring of love and support from people around the world. Also, huge congrats to my teammates and all of the Team USA athletes who are out there inspiring me and giving me something to cheer for."
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Orthopedic surgeon and member of the Olympic team medical staff, Dr. Mark Schultzel, spoke to NBC San Diego about Lindsey Vonn’s recovery timeline and the need for multiple surgeries.
The fact that Vonn requires multiple procedures likely means she will be off her feet for a while.
“In terms of the recovery, an external fixator is really meant to temporize things until she can have a definitive surgical fixation later on, allowing her soft tissue to recover and her swelling to resolve so plates can be placed inside the bone,” Dr. Schultzel explained. “That would leave her off her leg for six to eight weeks, minimum.”
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Vonn’s Olympic journey is now likely over, as the next Winter Olympics wouldn’t occur for another four years — by which point she would be in her mid-40s, making a return unlikely.
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