Lindsey Vonn Almost Had Her Leg Amputated After the Olympics
Outside Magazine • • sports
Key Points:
- Lindsey Vonn nearly had her left leg amputated after a severe crash during the 2026 Winter Olympics downhill race in Cortina, Italy, but a Colorado surgeon, Dr. Tomas Hackett, performed a fasciotomy that saved her leg.
- Vonn suffered a complex tibia fracture, a fractured femoral head, and developed compartment syndrome, a serious condition caused by increased pressure in the leg that can lead to muscle and nerve damage.
- The surgery on February 18 lasted six hours and Vonn required a blood transfusion due to significant blood loss, with her recovery being slow and painful.
- Vonn had returned to competitive skiing in late 2024 after retiring in 2019 and had strong World Cup
