Lindsey Vonn has confirmed that her latest surgery, lasting over six hours, was successful, though the 41-year-old ski star is struggling with significant pain during her recovery. The procedure, which took place in the United States, marks her fifth operation following a horrific crash at the Milano Cortina Olympics.
Vonn shared an update on X on Friday, stating: 'Just a quick update ... my last surgery went well. It took a little over 6 hours. I have been recovering from the surgery but pain has been hard to manage. Making slow progress but I hope I can be out of the hospital soon.' The 2010 Olympic champion travelled to the US last Sunday after being discharged from Ca' Foncello Hospital in Treviso, Italy, where she had undergone four previous surgeries for a complex leg fracture.
Vonn’s Olympic campaign was severely hampered after she ruptured her ACL just days before the Games. Despite the injury, she chose to compete and qualified for the women’s downhill final, only to suffer a heavy crash that ended her medal hopes. She was airlifted to hospital and received treatment for a week before returning to the US.
It remains unclear whether Vonn, the second most successful female World Cup skier of all time, will return to elite competition. Experts suggest she could be back on skis within a year if her rehabilitation progresses without setbacks, but the road ahead is long. Vonn has previously defied expectations, returning to the sport after a six-year retirement prior to the Olympics.
