Lindsey Vonn “In Stable Condition” After Shocking Olympics 2026 Crash
Lindsey Vonn is speaking out following a harrowing experience at the 2026 Olympics.
One day after crashing during the women’s downhill final at the Milano Cortina Winter Games, requiring her to be airlifted off the course, the alpine ski racer shared more details about the injury she sustained.
“Unfortunately, I sustained a complex tibia fracture that is currently stable,” Lindsey wrote on Instagram Feb. 9, referencing a type of break that typically shatters the bone into multiple pieces, “but will require multiple surgeries to fix properly.”
Although Lindsey was competing with a torn ACL, which she injured one week before the Winter Games, the three-time Olympic medalist clarified that the cause of her crash was completely unrelated to her physical health.
“I was simply 5 inches too tight on my line when my right arm hooked inside of the gate, twisting me and resulted in my crash,” the 41-year-old continued. “My ACL and past injuries had nothing to do with my crash whatsoever.”
And while Lindsey—who came out of retirement months ahead of the Winter Games—emphasized that her Olympic dream “did not finish the way I dreamt it would,” she is glad that she “dared to dream.”
“While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets,” she shared. “Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget. Knowing I stood there having a chance to win was a victory in and of itself.”
Lindsey also acknowledged that “racing was a risk” and downhill skiing is and “always will be an incredibly dangerous sport.”
François-Xavier MARIT / AFP via Getty Images
“Similar to ski racing, we take risks in life,” she explained. “We dream. We love. We jump. And sometimes we fall. Sometimes our hearts are broken. Sometimes we don’t achieve the dreams we know we could have. But that is the [sic] also the beauty of life; we can try.”
Reflecting on her career—which includes a gold medal at the 2010 Olympics, two world championship medals and four skiing World Cup titles—Lindsey took a moment to encourage her supporters.
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“I hope if you take away anything from my journey it’s that you all have the courage to dare greatly,” she wrote. “Life is too short not to take chances on yourself. Because the only failure in life is not trying.”
Lindsey concluded, “I believe in you, just as you believed in me.”
Indeed, many of Lindsey’s supporters are rooting for her amid her recovery.
“I’m so inspired by your courage to always challenge yourself,” Reese Witherspoon wrote in the comments section. “You are & will always be a true Champion.”
Meanwhile, Natalie Portman shared, “Beautiful inspiration. Sending healing energy and wishing you a smooth recovery.”
Fellow Olympian Ilona Maher added, “I’m proud of you for doing that. You are a lesson for all women that we are more than our age and people’s perceptions.”
Read on for other notable moments from the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Daniel Kopatsch/VOIGT/GettyImages
Never Give Up
U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn looks determined as she attends a training session on Feb. 6, days after rupturing her ACL in a crash.
Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Ice to See You
Alysa Liu of United States performs the Biellmann spin during the women’s single skating short program event on Feb. 6.
Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images
Jennifer Dodds
Team Great Britain’s Jennifer Dodds has a nail-biting reaction to the curling mixed doubles round robin match against South Korea on Feb. 6.
Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images
Curl It Like It’s Hot
Snoop Dogg, serving as an Olympics correspondent for NBC, tries his hand at curling at a Feb. 6. practice.
Tim Clayton/Getty Images
In Sync
U.S. figure skaters and real-life couple Evan Bates and Madison Chock are a perfect match while performing their rhythm ice dance routine on Feb. 6.
Federico Manoni/NurPhoto via Getty Images
On the B-rink of History
Laila Edwards, the first Black woman representing the U.S. in Olympic hockey, faces off against Czech player Sara Cajanova during the United States vs. Czech Republic game on Feb. 5.
Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Friendship Knows No Borders
Australian snowboarder Valentino Guseli shares a hug with Team Czechia’s Jakub Hrones during the men’s snowboard big air qualifiers on Feb. 5.
Javier SORIANO / AFP via Getty Images
Photo Finish
Bulgarian ski jumper Vladimir Zografski hits the brakes during a Feb. 5 training session.
Al Bello/Getty Images
Swept Away With Joy
American curler Korey Dropkin lets out a victorious shout after his team defeats Switzerland in a mixed doubles round bobin match on Feb. 5.
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