MILANO — Lindsey Vonn’s long list of injuries got even longer.
Vonn was airlifted off the mountain and taken to a hospital after crashing 13 seconds into her Olympic downhill run on Sunday, Feb. 8. Vonn revealed on Feb. 9 that she has a complex fracture in her tibia that will require multiple surgeries. She shared the updated in an Instagram post, saying that she knew the risks involved.
This nine days after another crash left Vonn with a torn ACL, bone bruising and meniscus damage in her left knee. Which is not to be confused with the partial replacement she had of her right knee in April 2024.
‘While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets,” Vonn said. ‘Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget. Knowing I stood there having a chance to win was a victory in and of itself.
“I also knew that racing was a risk. It always was and always will be an incredibly dangerous sport.”
Lindsey Vonn injury history
- February 2026: A complex fracture in her tibia that will require multiple surgeries.
- January 2026: Torn ACL, bone bruising and meniscus damage in her left knee after crash during World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
- January 2019: Impact injury to peroneal nerve.
- November 2018: Torn lateral collateral ligament and meniscus in left knee, three tibial plateau fractures from crash during training at Copper Mountain, Colorado.
- November 2016: Fractured humerus in right arm from crash during training at Copper Mountain, Colorado.
- August 2015: Broken ankle from crash during training in New Zealand.
- February 2016: Multiple fractures in left knee from crash during World Cup super-G in Andorra.
- December 2013: MCL sprain in right knee.
- November 2013: Torn right ACL from crash in training at Copper Mountain, Colorado.
- February 2013: Torn ACL and MCL in right knee and tibial plateau fracture in right leg following crash in super-G at world championships.
- February 2010: Broken right pinkie from crash in giant slalom at Vancouver Olympics. (Where she’d previously won the downhill gold.)
- December 2009: Microfractures in left forearm after crash during giant slalom in Lienz, Austria.
- February 2009: Severed tendon in right thumb cutting open champagne bottle at world championships in Val d’Isère, France.
- February 2007: Sprained right ACL after crash during training at the world championships in Åre, Sweden.
What is a complex tibia fracture?
A tibia fracture is a break in the shin bone that is an emergency needing immediate treatment.
‘Your tibias are some of the strongest bones in your body. It usually takes a lot of force to break one,’ according to the Cleveland Clinic. ‘You probably won’t be able to stand, walk or put weight on your leg if you have a broken shin bone.’
A complex fracture involves multiple breaks in a bone and damaged soft tissue, according Yale Medicine. Symptoms include extreme pain, numbness and, sometimes, a bone that protrudes through the skin. Treatment involves stabilization and surgery.
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