Lindsey Vonn weighs skiing future after horrific Olympic crash
Lindsey Vonn is considering retirement from competitive skiing after a devastating Winter Olympics crash left her needing eight surgeries to save her leg.
The 41-year-old suffered a complex left tibia fracture during the women’s downhill race in Cortina on 8 February.
The severity of the incident nearly necessitated an amputation, and she still faces at least one further operation to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
‘Not emotionally ready’ to decide future
A return to the slopes would take at least 18 months of intensive rehabilitation, placing immense doubt over her career.
“I just don’t want to jump to any conclusions or even speculate on what I might do.”
Speaking to the Associated Press, the three-time Olympic medallist admitted that walking away from the sport remains a distinct possibility.
“I may retire. I may never race again and that would be completely fine, but I’m not in a position emotionally to make that decision at this point.”
A comeback cut brutally short
The American icon had recently ended a six-year absence from alpine skiing, primarily to compete on the renowned Italian course ahead of the Milan Cortina Games.
Prior to the accident, the 2010 downhill gold winner had been enjoying a stellar comeback season, leading the World Cup downhill standings and never finishing outside the top four.
However, her race in Cortina lasted just 13 seconds before a terrifying fall shocked the watching crowds and abruptly halted her resurgence.
Enduring unprecedented pain
Despite a heavily documented history of overcoming major physical setbacks, including a titanium implant in her right knee, the legendary speed specialist says this trauma is fundamentally different.
The eight operations required for this single fracture are just one shy of the total procedures she had undergone throughout her entire career previously.
“It’s a much different injury in that way, again, like the severity of the injury and understanding that I could have lost my leg and how bad things were.”
While she continues to progress in her rehabilitation from a wheelchair to crutches, the recovery timeline remains arduous and frustrating.
