Alpine skiing legend Lindsey Vonnová is counting down the days to a November surgery where doctors will remove metal from her leg and repair a torn cruciate ligament following a severe crash at the Olympic downhill in Cortina. While February brought a helicopter rescue and fears for her leg, the 42-year-old athlete is now building muscle in the gym and has not ruled out a return to the 2028 World Championships.
Before the upcoming procedure, Vonnová has been sharing her training progress on Instagram, where a countdown video showed roughly two and a half weeks remaining until the operation. She has returned to jumping, training rebounds, and building muscle mass to counteract expected atrophy. Doufám, že budu co nejsilnější, abych po operaci ještě měla nějaké svaly,
she wrote. Tomáš Bank, long-time coach and head of the Kästle racing department, noted that despite the severe injuries from her crash, she remains determined to race again, stating, Chce se vrátit.
Bank added, Nevím, jak moc má tu nohu zničenou, ale střelená je na to dost.
Star Balances Rehabilitation with Public Appearances and Fashion Posts
Alongside her demanding physical rehabilitation, the American star has maintained a busy public profile. She recently showcased a new clothing collection on Instagram featuring items suited for mountains, resorts, and the city, which included a subtle top-free photo. This follows a pattern of bold social media posts, including an October appearance where she posed top-free while introducing her partner, 11-year-old younger French downhill skier Matthieu Bailets, as well as an appearance in a red gown in New York in September.
The Road to Recovery and Future Decisions
The February crash in Cortina marked one of the most frightening moments of the Olympic Games, requiring a series of operations as doctors fought to save her leg. Despite the trauma, Vonnová remains on the roster of the American A-team.
Following the November hardware removal and ligament repair, Vonnová expects approximately nine months of rehabilitation. Only after completing this extended recovery process will a final decision be made regarding her potential participation in the 2028 World Championships.
