Lindsey Vonn reflects on her Winter Olympic downhill crash : NPR
NPR • • sports
Key Points:
- Lindsey Vonn, at 41, made a remarkable comeback to competitive skiing, aiming to end her career on a high note at the Winter Olympics in Cortina D'Ampezzo but suffered a severe crash just 13 seconds into the downhill race.
- Despite a freshly torn ACL sustained days before the Olympics, Vonn chose to compete, facing widespread criticism and doubts about the safety and wisdom of her decision.
- The crash resulted in the worst injury of her career, including a complex tibial fracture, broken right ankle, and compartment syndrome requiring emergency surgery, with a recovery expected to take at least a year.
- Vonn has been open about her recovery journey on social media, sharing her physical and emotional struggles, and has started re-engaging with public life through photo shoots and advocacy work.
- Although uncertain about returning to competitive skiing, Vonn has not ruled out visiting the slopes again for personal closure and continues to document her healing process with transparency.
