U.S. skiing star Lindsey Vonn has undergone two operations in Italy after suffering a serious leg fracture in a dramatic Winter Olympics crash, a source said.
The 41-year-old fell just 13 seconds into a highly anticipated downhill race on Sunday in Cortina d’Ampezzo. She was flown by helicopter to Ca’ Foncello Hospital in Treviso, the source said.
Hospital officials said on Sunday that Vonn had surgery to stabilize her left leg. The source said a second procedure was also carried out to reduce the risk of complications linked to swelling and blood flow.
A crash moments into a headline race
Vonn’s fall came early and violently. It ended her attempt to pursue downhill gold while managing a knee injury.
She had suffered an ACL injury to her left knee in late January. The ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament, is a key stabilizing ligament inside the knee.
Two procedures aimed at preventing complications
The source said the operations were performed by a joint team of local orthopedic and plastic surgeons. They were designed to stabilize her condition and limit complications that can follow major trauma.
Vonn’s personal doctor was present, the source added, but only assisted. Italian surgeons led the procedures.
Updates shift to the U.S. delegation
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee did not respond to a request for comment on Vonn’s treatment.
The hospital had previously indicated it would provide a further update at 1100 GMT on Monday. That plan was later scrapped, and further information was expected to come from the U.S. delegation instead.
A small group of reporters waited outside the hospital in Treviso, near Venice. No public gathering formed outside the facility.
Who decides if an injured athlete should race
Vonn’s decision to compete has fueled a wider discussion in elite sport about who has the final say when athletes return from injury.
International Ski Federation president Johan Eliasch said the decision should be left to the competitor. He also described the crash as a rare misfortune, saying she was “incredibly unlucky” after getting too close to a gate and catching it while airborne, which caused her to rotate.
A former medallist points to momentum and risk
Sebastien Amiez, a former French skier and Olympic silver medallist, said Vonn’s strong World Cup form may have influenced her choice to keep racing.
He suggested her early results shifted expectations. In his view, the risk finally caught up with her in the Olympic race.
Why Treviso was chosen for treatment
The source said the U.S. ski team had inspected several facilities before selecting Treviso, around 125 km from Cortina.
Treviso was chosen over a closer hospital in Belluno, the source said, because it also has a neurosurgery department.
Messages pour in from across sport
Support has come from across the sporting world. Tennis great Rafael Nadal was among those who sent a message, praising Vonn’s perseverance and wishing her a strong recovery.
For now, the focus is on her medical condition and next steps. Officials have not given a clear timeline for further updates, but more information is expected from the U.S. delegation.
