Lindsey Vonn has ninth surgery after Olympic crash

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 11 Nov, 22:44 · Archive

American skier Lindsey Vonn has undergone her ninth operation following a crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Lindsey Vonn, the 42-year-old American skier, underwent her ninth operation following the crash she sustained during the women's downhill event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina. She had been competing on a torn left ACL that she injured in another crash just days before the Games began.

In a pre-recorded video posted on social media before the procedure, Vonn explained what the surgery would involve. Surgeons would remove all of the titanium plates and screws that had been installed during eight previous operations to stabilize her leg, making room for a new ACL reconstruction. She said she had been 'nervous and anxious' about the operation but was 'excited to hopefully put this behind me' and was 'praying' it would be her last.

Vonn described how she had waited nine months for her bones to heal following the Olympic crash before the ACL could be addressed. 'I've been waiting all these nine months so my bones could heal and we could fix the ACL and my bones healed which is great news,' she said. However, she acknowledged that the road to full recovery remained long. 'Obviously now I have the ACL and that means another six to nine months,' she added.

The Olympic crash occurred when Vonn struck a gate and crashed 13 seconds into her run. She was airlifted from the course to a hospital in Treviso, Italy, where she underwent four emergency surgeries. She then returned to the United States for continued treatment over the following nine months. The two-time Olympic gold medallist and one of the greatest alpine skiers of all time had previously revealed that the operations had prevented the need for amputation.

Vonn, who retired in 2019 after numerous leg injuries, had made a return to competition in 2024 following a partial right knee replacement before competing in her fifth Winter Olympics.

How it is being reported

• Lindsey Vonn gives health update as she undergoes ninth surgery following brutal Olympic crashLindsey Vonn revealed she's heading into her ninth surgery to remove plates and screws before finally getting a new ACL after her Olympic crash.Fox News · 11 Nov, 22:24
• Vonn has ninth operation after Olympic crashAmerican skier Lindsey Vonn has her ninth operation after her crash during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina.BBC News · 11 Nov, 09:40
• Lindsey Vonn ‘nervous and anxious’ for ninth surgery after horrific Olympic crashLegendary Olympic women’s skier Lindsey Vonn is heading for another surgery. Vonn revealed in a pre-recorded Instagram video that she is going under the knife for a ninth time on Tuesday, once again having a procedure on her leg. The 2010 gold medalist shared her thoughts as she prepared for the operation and the recovery...New York Post · 10 Nov, 22:17
• Lindsey Vonn undergoes NINTH surgery to fix injury after horrifying Winter Olympics crash: 'I'm praying it's my last!'Lindsey Vonn's recovery from the catastrophic crash she suffered during the 2026 Winter Olympics isn't quite finished, as the 42-year-old skier revealed to her fans.Daily Mail Sport · 10 Nov, 16:29

In this story: Lindsey Vonn · Milan-Cortina · Cortina · Treviso · Italy · United States

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