Concern surrounding Lindsey Vonn’s disastrous injury during the women’s downhill at the 2026 Olympic Games continues to build.
The latest evaluation from a specialist surgeon in France presents a frightening possibility.
Nightmare scenario
Vonn sustained a tibia fracture in a horrific crash during the Olympic event and is expected to undergo several surgeries to repair the gruesome injury. That’s left experts around the world to provide their analysis on what the next steps are for the 41-year-old skiing legend.
Orthopedic expert knee specialist Dr. Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet told France’s RMC Sport this week that there is a chance Vonn will have to have her leg amputated as a result of her injury.
“Her goal now is first and foremost to keep her leg and be able to walk,” Sonnery-Cottet told RMC Sport. “I think we’re not yet at the stage of returning to high-level skiing. We’re not there yet, but some injuries like hers can end in amputation.”
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Sports injury expert and former Los Angeles Chargers team doctor, David J. Chao, provided further explanation regarding Vonn’s significant ailment.
“Lindsey Vonn’s external fixator (‘erector set’) tells the story,” posted Chao to his X account. “This wasn’t just a fracture; it was a complex open injury with significant knee damage. Multiple surgeries are likely ahead, including washouts and eventual hardware removal.”
The crash
Vonn’s crash occurred just 13 seconds into the Olympic event when her right arm made contact with a gate, causing her to spin out of control and land awkwardly before sliding down the mountain in Cortina, Italy. The decorated Olympian was then airlifted from the course.
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The veteran skier was attempting an Olympic comeback after nearly six years removed from the sport. She also sustained an ACL injury in Crans-Montana on the World Cup circuit, but remained determined to compete at the Olympics, only for her 2026 journey to be cut short by a subsequent leg injury.
It’s unclear what the future holds for Vonn at this point. If this spells the end of her Olympic career, she will have competed in five separate games — 2002, 2010, 2018 and 2026, earning three medals, including gold in the women’s downhill at the 2010 Vancouver games. In doing so, she became the first USA woman to win gold in the event.
