Lindsey Vonn Reveals Her Ankle Is “Still Broken” 5 Months After Gruesome Olympic Injury
on Jul 16, 2026
Lindsey Vonn attended the ESPY Awards on Wednesday night (July 15) and gave an update on her recovery from her horrific injury from the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Lindsey Had A Heartbreaking Crash At The 2026 Olympics
Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic career has been defined not only by success but also by an extraordinary ability to overcome devastating injuries. Throughout her career, the American skiing legend endured multiple torn ligaments, broken bones, and countless surgeries, yet repeatedly fought her way back to the highest level of competition. Her resilience became just as much a part of her legacy as her Olympic medals.
Perhaps the most heartbreaking setback came before the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. After tearing her ACL and MCL and fracturing her tibial plateau during the 2013 World Championships, Vonn spent months rehabilitating in hopes of defending her Olympic downhill title.
But just weeks before the Games, she re-tore her surgically repaired ACL during a World Cup race, forcing her to withdraw from the Olympics. Missing the chance to defend her gold medal was a crushing disappointment, but Vonn vowed to return stronger than ever.
Despite years of additional injuries—including fractures, concussions, and chronic knee problems—she qualified for the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. There, she captured a bronze medal in the downhill, becoming one of the oldest women ever to win an Olympic alpine skiing medal at 33 years old.
After retiring in 2019 because of the physical toll skiing had taken on her body, Vonn stunned the sports world by returning to competition ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics following a partial knee replacement that allowed her to ski pain-free again.
Her comeback, however, was anything but easy. Just days before the Olympics, she completely tore her ACL during a during a race in Switzerland, but made the remarkable decision to compete anyway after consulting with her medical team.
Tragically, only seconds into her Olympic downhill run, she suffered a horrific crash that resulted in multiple fractures in her leg and ankle. She was airlifted off the mountain and underwent several surgeries and later revealed that doctors had to perform emergency procedures to prevent the possibility of losing her leg.
Lindsey Has Been Open About Her Recovery
Even after the accident, Vonn approached recovery with the same relentless mindset that defined her career. She had multiple surgeries before gradually returning to the gym, celebrating milestones that once seemed impossible, like walking without assistance and completing basic strength exercises.
Although she acknowledged the recovery would be long and difficult, Vonn remained focused on steady progress, saying she had learned to appreciate every small victory along the way.
Lindsey Gave A Surprising Update At The ESPYs
The ESPY Awards (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards) celebrate the biggest achievements, standout performances, and unforgettable moments in sports over the past year.
Hosted annually by ESPN, the ceremony honors athletes, teams, and coaches across a wide range of sports while also recognizing inspiring stories of perseverance and courage.
This year, many Olympic athletes were in attendance to celebrate their accomplishments while representing our country, including Vonn.
On the red carpet, she was asked how her recovery has been.
“I’m feeling a lot better. Ever since the Met [Gala], I feel amazing,” she said. “I’m working out in the gym finally, which has been a huge step forward for me, but it’s been a very slow process. You know, it’s been five months since I’ve been able to actually go to the gym in a somewhat meaningful way.”
She continued, “Walking is still actually really hard for me. My ankle is still broken, but you know, one thing at a time. My leg is healing and that’s important.”
RELATED: Lindsey Vonn Stuns On Met Gala Red Carpet Without Crutches 3 Months After Olympic Crash
It’s so impressive that she able to start lifting weights on a broken ankle! She is taking the term “badass” to a whole new level.
Watch her give her update below.
