Lindsey Vonn Opens Up About Skiing Comeback After Devastating Olympic Crash
on Apr 08, 2026
Lindsey Vonn Fractures Her Left Leg During 2026 Winter Olympics
On February 8th, U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn fractured her left leg in a crash during the downhill competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
After being airlifted to the hospital, her teammate Breezy Johnson continued competing and secured the gold medal for Team USA.
The following day, Vonn shared further details about her condition, confirming she suffered a complex fracture of her tibia. Although the injury is stable, it will require multiple surgeries to fully repair.
Vonn’s Road To Recovery
Since then, Vonn has shared many updates regarding her recovery and multiple surgeries she’s undergone. On February 11th, the 41-year-old shared a series of photos from her hospital bed.
“I had my 3rd surgery today and it was successful,” she wrote at the time. “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.”
The skier said at the time that she doesn’t regret anything she’s done as far as competing in the Olympics goes. Vonn did say, however, that her injury was “by far the most extreme, and painful, and challenging” one she has ever faced. The pain was “out of control,” according to the Olympian.
While Vonn has made it clear she fully expects to continue her career, family members, including her dad, Alan Kildow, admitted he’s ready for her to put her skis away.
Kildow, a former skier himself, was in the stands watching Vonn race when she crashed. ESPN reported that he started down at the ground while his daughter was being treated and waiting for the medical helicopter to arrive.
“She put it all out there. She always goes 110 percent, there’s never anything less, so I know she put her whole heart into it. Sometimes things happen. It’s a very dangerous sport.”
Meanwhile, during an interview with the Associated Press on February 9, Alan Kildow said he believes it’s time for Vonn to retire.
“She’s 41 years old, and this is the end of her career,” he said. “There will be no more ski races for Lindsey Vonn, as long as I have anything to say about it.”
Lindsey Vonn Eyeing A Comeback To Skiing
During an appearance on the Today show Tuesday (April 7), Vonn told co-anchor Craig Melvin that she is very much still considering returning to her beloved sport.
“It’s just that ski racing is something I love to do and I never got a final run,” Vonn said. “I never got to say goodbye.”
The skiier admitted that the way she ended the Olympics has left her wanting one more chance at finishing up her career for good.
“I don’t know, maybe I would do one more race to say goodbye. Maybe I’ll race again. It might be fun to do one more run. We’ll see,” Vonn continued.
When asked by Melvin if she is “entertaining” the idea of making a comeback, Vonn replied:
“I mean, much to my family’s dismay, yes, I think it’s something, I’ve been so isolated. I’m still kind of trapped in this I didn’t have my Olympic dream situation. But I need to walk and be out in public and be living life and I think that will give me a different perspective. Right now I can’t say what the future holds because my mind can’t get there yet.”
You can watch Lindsey Vonn’s full interview below.
