Lindsey Vonn Mourns Dog Leo's Death After Olympic Crash

Lindsey Vonn Mourns Dog Leo's Death After Olympic Crash

Lindsey Vonn has revealed her dog Leo died the day after she crashed in the women's downhill at the Winter Olympics in Cortina. The 41-year-old skier suffered a complex leg fracture when clipping a gate and falling just seconds into her run earlier this month.

Vonn was airlifted to hospital and subsequently underwent a string of operations before returning to America, where she will have further surgery. In a post on Instagram, Vonn paid tribute to 13-year-old Leo, who she said had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer.

Emotional Tribute on Instagram

She said: "This has been an incredibly hard few days. Probably the hardest of my life. I have still not come to terms that he is gone."

"The day I crashed, so did Leo. He had been recently diagnosed with lung cancer but now his heart was failing him. He was in pain and his body could no longer keep up with his strong mind."

"As I laid in my hospital bed the day after my crash, we said goodbye to my big boy. I had lost so much that meant something to me in such a short amount of time. I can't believe it."

Vonn's Heartfelt Goodbye

She concluded: "There will never be another Leo. He will always be my first love."

"Heading in for more surgery today. Will be thinking of him when I close my eyes. I will love you forever my big boy."

The announcement comes as Vonn continues to recover from her serious injuries sustained during the Olympic competition. The timing of Leo's passing adds another layer of emotional difficulty to her recovery process.

Vonn's Instagram post has garnered significant attention from fans and fellow athletes, with many offering condolences for both her injury and the loss of her beloved pet. The dual challenges of physical recovery and personal loss highlight a particularly difficult period for the champion skier.