Lindsey Vonn injury update: stable after surgery, facing multiple procedures and long rehab

Lindsey Vonn remains hospitalized in northern Italy after a violent crash ended her 2026 Olympic downhill run and left her with a complex fracture in her left leg. As of Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, the most recent official updates continue to describe her condition as stable following an initial operation, with additional surgeries expected as doctors move from emergency stabilization to definitive repair.

The 41-year-old ski icon has said she has “no regrets” about racing, even after entering the Games with a serious knee injury and a long history of prior procedures.

What happened and what’s confirmed

Vonn crashed roughly 13 seconds into the women’s downhill on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, after losing control early on the course. She was treated on the slope, placed in a medical stretcher, and airlifted off the mountain before being transferred to a larger hospital in Treviso.

Later that day, the hospital said she underwent an orthopedic operation to stabilize a fracture in her left leg. Officials have since described the injury as a complex tibia fracture that will require multiple surgeries to repair.

Hospital status and immediate care plan

Public statements in the days after the crash have emphasized two points: Vonn’s condition is stable, and the medical plan is staged. In serious lower-leg fractures, early surgery often focuses on stabilizing the injury and protecting soft tissue, with further procedures scheduled once swelling and tissue conditions allow more definitive internal repair.

Medical commentary tied to the case has described a common pathway that can include temporary external stabilization first, followed later by internal fixation (such as plates and screws). That kind of staged approach typically means a prolonged period off the injured leg before weight-bearing can even be considered.

How the earlier knee injury complicates recovery

Vonn entered the Olympics after rupturing the ACL in her left knee in a crash about a week before the Games. She raced with a brace and later said the ACL tear was not what caused her Olympic crash.

Even so, a major knee ligament injury in the same leg can complicate rehab planning after a tibia fracture. It can limit early stability, slow the progression of strength work, and make it harder to rebuild confidence on snow—especially in a speed discipline where small instabilities can have outsized consequences.

Separate from the new injuries, Vonn’s history includes significant knee issues and prior major procedures over her career, which is one reason orthopedic experts have cautioned that return-to-elite timelines depend not just on bone healing, but on joint health and long-term durability.

Expected timeline: months, not weeks

No detailed surgical plan with exact dates has been publicly released, and that limits how precise any timeline can be right now. Still, orthopedic specialists familiar with high-level ski injuries have pointed to an 8–11 month window as a realistic range for returning to skiing after a displaced tibia fracture, if healing proceeds without complications.

Two cautions show up repeatedly in the medical outlook:

• Joint involvement matters. If the fracture extends into or near a joint surface, the risk of earlier arthritis and lingering stiffness rises.

• Age and wear-and-tear matter. At 41, recovery and tissue remodeling can be slower than for younger racers, even with world-class resources.

Put simply: the early phase is about stabilizing the fracture and preventing complications; the middle phase is about regaining movement and strength; and the late phase is about rebuilding speed-specific load tolerance and confidence.

Competition implications and what comes next

Vonn’s Olympic competition is over, and the focus is now fully on recovery. Even with her season cut short, she remains a major figure in the sport and in Olympic leadership circles in the U.S., which is likely to keep attention on her rehab milestones and any future decisions about racing.

The next meaningful “injury update” will likely come in one of three forms: confirmation of the next surgery, details on fixation and weight-bearing restrictions, or a discharge/transfer plan for rehabilitation. Until that happens, the most reliable summary remains: stable after initial surgery, multiple procedures still ahead, and a long rehabilitation timeline.

Key takeaways

• Vonn is stable after an operation to stabilize a left-leg fracture from her Feb. 8 crash.

• She has described the injury as a complex tibia fracture that will require multiple surgeries.

• A return to elite racing would likely take many months and depends on healing, joint health, and rehab progress.

Sources consulted: Reuters; Associated Press; U.S. Ski & Snowboard; International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS)