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Vonn Faces Extensive Recovery After Olympic Crash, Two More Surgeries Planned
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn is facing a challenging road to recovery after a devastating crash during her downhill race at the Winter Olympics last weekend. The 41-year-old Olympic veteran, who sustained a broken left leg, revealed on Friday that she anticipates at least two more surgeries.
Vonn, a Colorado native, provided an update on her condition via a social media video, stating she had already undergone three procedures for the injury earlier this week. She expects to have another surgery on Saturday, which, if successful, could allow her to return to the U.S. for an additional operation.
Describing her recent hospital stay as “hard,” Vonn shared that she has been “very much immobile” but is “finally feeling more like myself.” However, she acknowledged that she still has “a long, long way to go.”
The three-time Olympic medalist expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support she has received, including flowers, letters, stuffed animals, and visits from friends and family. “I feel very lucky and fortunate to have so many people around me that have really helped me get through this,” she said.
Vonn also noted that watching her fellow American athletes compete in the Olympics has been a source of encouragement, cheering on “Good job, team, and keep crushing it.”
The crash that led to Vonn’s current injuries occurred just seconds into her downhill Olympic race on Sunday. She had made the decision to compete despite having ruptured her left ACL in a separate incident during a World Cup event in the Swiss Alps last month. Vonn, who had come out of retirement to participate in the Milan Cortina Games, had expressed confidence in her ability to complete the race with the aid of a knee brace.