Lindsey Vonn’s top health goal is simple in the eyes of a specialist surgeon in France.
Based on the decorated skier’s tibia fracture that will require several surgeries after she took a scary crash during the Milan Cortina Olympic women’s downhill, orthopedic expert knee specialist Dr. Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet told France’s RMC Sport that Vonn should do everything to avoid amputating her leg.
“The timeline is quite unpredictable. It will be months before she can walk normally again,” Sonnery-Cottet told RMC Sport.
“Her goal now is first and foremost to keep her leg and be able to walk. I think we’re not yet at the stage of returning to high-level skiing. We’re not there yet, but some injuries like hers can end in amputation.”
Sonnery-Cottet added that Vonn could experience long-term difficulty with the limb.
“The latest images posted on her Instagram account show that, even though the surgeries were successful, the ‘external fixator’ – that is, the enormous pin they put in her left leg – proves that they haven’t been able to fully repair her fracture,” he said. “It’s only temporary for now. It’s important to understand that her injury is extremely serious and will cause her problems for at least months, and could even leave her with lifelong consequences.”
A different French surgeon, Nicolas Baudrier, said Vonn’s hospital photo showed “these are very serious injuries that required the application of an external fixator.”
“There were probably several bone fragments (comminuted fracture). With possible skin, nerve, or muscle damage, increasing the severity of the injury,” he said.
Vonn’s father Alan Kildow told the Associated Press that if he has any influence over his daughter’s decision, this would be the end of her career.
2026 WINTER OLYMPICS
“There will be no more ski races for Lindsey Vonn, as long as I have anything to say about it,” he said.
After announcing she was coming out of retirement in 2024, Vonn trained for the 2026 Olympics and looked poised for the podium before concerns came after she completely ruptured her ACL in her left knee more than a week before the women’s downhill race.
The injury didn’t cause Vonn’s crash, rather she came into a gate too early that she clipped it with her right arm 13 seconds into the race.
“I had my 3rd surgery today and it was successful. Success today has a completely different meaning than it did a few days ago,” Vonn wrote in an Instagram post. “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.”
She was looking for her fourth Olympic medal in Cortina, where she has had won 12 World Cup titles.
Her three medals include a women’s downhill gold and a super-G bronze in 2010, and a bronze in the women’s downhill in 2018.
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