Olympian Lindsey Vonn shared an uplifting message to her supporters on Monday, more than a week after she suffered a major crash during the women’s downhill ski event at the Milano Cortina Games and sustained a complex tibia fracture.
The athlete took to Instagram to share insight into her time recovering in the Ca’ Foncello Hospital in Treviso, where her family kept her spirits up with pampering sessions and laughter. The video followed Lindsey’s recovery over the week, including her physical therapy sessions, her interactions with the nurses, and her time with her family.
In one clip, her sister, Karin Kildow, appeared to help her wash her long, blonde hair and braid it out of the way. She was also filmed eating in her hospital bed and laughing with her friends.
“Thankful for friends, family, my team and all the medical staff that are getting me back to myself…I’m slowly coming back to life, back to basics and the simple things in life that mean the most. Smile. Laugh. Love,” she wrote in the caption.
“My sister @kar_inthegarage made this video, and it instantly made me cry and made my heart full. Love you guys.” Karin shared the love in the comment section, writing: “Hospital glam squad sprang into action,” while actress Nina Dobrev chimed in: “You’re such a rockstar.”
Lindsey’s loyal fans joined the conversation, with one adding: “What resilience and such a wonderful smile; get well soon Champ,” while another said: “This is so beautiful!!! Love this and that support squad of yours,” and a third shared: “Team work makes the dream work! Baby steps are still steps …great to see you smiling.”
© InstagramLindsey even scored a hospital visit from Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay, while the actress was visiting Italy for the Olympics. The 41-year-old skiing champion has had four surgeries on her leg in the past week and is on her way back to the US to receive further treatment. This comes after she got tangled in a marker during the women’s downhill skiing final, a move which flung her into the air and left her lying in pain in the snow.
The 2026 Winter Olympics marked a major comeback for the fan-favorite, who retired in 2019 yet made a triumphant return to the sport in 2024 before rupturing her ACL less than two weeks prior to the Olympics. Lindsey shared her thoughts on the horrific crash in an Instagram post on Saturday, revealing that she had no regrets.
© Getty Images“I have been reading a lot of messages and comments saying that what has happened to me makes them sad. Please, don’t be sad. Empathy, love and support I welcome with an open heart, but please not sadness or sympathy,” she said. “I hope instead it gives you strength to keep fighting, because that is what I am doing and that is what I will continue to do. Always.”
© Getty ImagesShe continued: “When I think back on my crash, I didn’t stand in the starting gate unaware of the potential consequences. I knew what I was doing. I chose to take a risk. Every skier in that starting gate took the same risk. Because even if you are the strongest person in the world, the mountain always holds the cards.”
“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,” she concluded.
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