Lindsey Vonn says her horrific injury at the Winter Olympics is worse than first feared as she documented her taxing journey from Italy back home to the US.
The American skiing legend, 41, said her ‘leg is in pieces’ and is ‘a lot more severe than a broken leg’ after undergoing four surgeries following the disastrous crash in the women’s downhill race, which left her with a complex tibia fracture.
The serious damage to her leg required multiple procedures, with one knee specialist even warning that some similar injuries have required amputation in the past.
After her fourth op all went according to plan on Saturday, Vonn was discharged from hospital on Sunday, allowing her to set off on her journey back to the States the following day.
Nevertheless, getting the Olympian out of the hospital, to the airport, on a plane and straight to a hospital on home soil of course proved a difficult task given the severity of her injury.
Vonn shared a series of videos of her long-winded journey on Instagram, which shows a huge group of medical staff getting her out of Italy.
Lindsey Vonn says her leg injury at the Winter Olympics is worse than first feared
Vonn underwent four surgeries after breaking her leg in a horror crash at the Winter Olympics
She wrote: ‘My leg is still in pieces…but I’m finally HOME!’
‘Thankful to all of the medical staff who helped me get home,’ Vonn added, ‘and seriously looking forward to my next surgery when I can get the X-fix out of my leg and will be able to move more.
‘My injury was a lot more severe than just a broken leg. I’m still wrapping my head around it, what it means and the road ahead… but I’m going to give you more detail in the coming days.
‘As always, I appreciate all the love and support’.
Earlier on Tuesday, Vonn revealed she is yet to stand on her own feet after the crash in Cortina, having been airlifted straight to hospital before undergoing multiple surgeries.
‘Haven’t stood on my feet in over a week… been in a hospital bed immobile since my race. And although I’m not yet able to stand, being back on home soil feels amazing,’ she said on X.
‘Huge thank you to everyone in Italy for taking good care of me’.
Vonn, who was competing in the women’s downhill with a torn ACL, lost control over the opening traverse after cutting the line too tight and was spun around in the air.
The skiing legend suffered a complex tibia fracture when she crashed in the women’s downhill
She was heard screaming out after the crash as she was surrounded by medical personnel before she was strapped to a gurney and flown away by a helicopter.
Despite the severity of her injury, a defiant Vonn suggested last week that she will one day take to the slopes again.
While she surely meant it in a recreational sense rather than trying once again to compete at the highest level, the iconic skier said: ‘Please, don’t feel sad. The ride was worth the fall. When I close my eyes at night I don’t have regrets and the love I have for skiing remains.
‘I am still looking forward to the moment when I can stand on the top of the mountain once more. And I will.’
