American Olympic alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn has revealed some shocking and graphic new details about her crash on February 8.
Vonn, 41, suffered multiple injuries in the incident, which occurred during the downhill event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy.
She was care-flighted away from the scene by helicopter and taken to a hospital, where it was revealed she had a complex tibia fracture as well as a fracture of her fibular head and tibial plateau.
Speaking to Vanity Fair for their latest cover story, in her first interview since Milano Cortina, Vonn exclusively told the publication some things she hadn’t previously shared with the public.
Lindsey Vonn Was ‘Sweating’ and ‘In Such Extreme Pain’
GettySpeaking bluntly, Lindsey Vonn — who had torn her anterior cruciate ligament just nine days before her crash — said of her predicament, “I was number one in the world, and potentially on my way to an Olympic medal. Now I’m in a wheelchair.”
The crash occurred when Vonn went too quickly over a small lip before a gate in the early section of the women’s downhill course. It hit her outside ski too hard and her arm nicked one of the gate’s poles.
Vonn’s coach, Aksel Lund Svindal, also spoke to Vanity Fair. She said of the mistake, “It was a very, very small error. We’re talking about a few centimeters [but] she paid a high price.”
“My leg was broken, my skis were still on, my leg was torqued, and I couldn’t get my skis off. I couldn’t move, and I was yelling for help,” Vonn said, before adding, “I just needed someone to take my skis off.”
Having been given painkillers and taken for a scan, Vonn said, “Halfway through, I started sweating. I was just in such extreme pain. I screamed at the top of my lungs: ‘Get me out!’ It just wouldn’t dissipate. It wouldn’t let up. It’s seared into my brain.”
There was a scary moment when Vonn’s leg began swelling and wouldn’t stop. Vanity Fair explained that the condition is “where pressure mounts in the leg, restricting blood flow and causing widespread nerve damage.” At that point, according to Tom Hackett, the head physician for Team USA Ski and Snowboard, Vonn was experiencing acute compartment syndrome.
Vonn said, “Dr. Hackett was on my left. There were a bunch of doctors and nurses around me. He said, ‘Don’t worry, I’m going to save your leg. I got this. I’m scrubbing in.'”
Vonn Won’t Confirm Retirement Just Yet
GettyLindsey Vonn insists the incident and injury are not things she wants to be remembered for.
Vonn said, “I don’t want people to hang on this crash and be remembered for that. What I did before the Olympics has never been done before. I was number one in the standings. No one remembers that I was winning.”
Bravely, Vonn also refuses to rule out continuing to compete. While she admits she can’t rule out being forced into retirement, she doesn’t want her career to end on this sour note.
About possible retirement, she said, “It’s hard to tell with this injury. It’s so f****d up. I really feel like that was a horrible last run to end my career on.”
Vonn’s Fans Love Her Vanity Fair Cover
Vanity Fair shared the Lindsey Vonn cover with their 9.8 million followers. They also tagged Vonn so her followers could see the post. Suffice it to say, her followers were impressed.
The Lindsey Vonn Foundation account wrote, “So so proud of our founder 💛.”
Author and social psychologist Amy Cuddy said, “Yes. Go, Lindsey! 🔥”
Rather peculiarly, the Law & Order account commented, “This is what a hero looks like. ❤️”
British-American freestyle skier and actor Gus Kenworthy insisted, “Gonna need a signed copy of this, @lindseyvonn! 💪🏼”
Meanwhile, a supportive fan said, “If anyone can make it back from this @lindseyvonn can, what a warrior and inspiration 🙌.”
Finally, another Instagram user simply noted, “Truly an amazing human being! 👏”
We’d like to wish Lindsey Vonn well in her continued recovery. Hopefully she’ll be back in action sooner rather than later.
