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U.S. skiing legend Lindsey Vonn is taking a new step in her long recovery journey after a devastating crash at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
The 41-year-old Olympic medalist recently shared on her Instagram Story a photo that showed her “first big travel,” giving fans a small but emotional look at how she is slowly returning to normal life.
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The post comes months after a frightening downhill crash that ended her Olympic comeback in seconds. She was even spotted at the Los Angeles airport while traveling with crutches.
Her recovery journey has been long and painful since Feb. 8, 2026, when she crashed just 13 seconds into her women’s downhill run at the Winter Olympics in Italy. The impact caused a complex tibia fracture in her left leg, forcing medical teams to airlift her from the mountain to a hospital.
Lindsey Vonn inspects the slope before the second official training for the women’s downhill event at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre during Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo on February 6, 2026. Photo by Stefano RELLANDINI / AFP via Getty Images
Vonn underwent multiple surgeries, with doctors at one point nearly forced to amputate her leg due to complications from compartment syndrome. She has since had a total of five surgeries while continuing intense rehabilitation.
Even with the challenges, Vonn has continued to share updates with fans. Vonn’s recovery has not only been physical but also deeply emotional. Nearly three months after her crash, she has openly shared the mental struggles that came with her injury.
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In an interview with People, she described how difficult the experience has been, especially after losing her independence during her hospital stay.
“It’s definitely been up and down,” she said of her mental health as she continues her rehab process. “I’d say in the last month, it’s definitely gotten better, but of course there were really low moments. I hate being dependent on people, and was pretty much 100% dependent for everything. It was quite a challenge, just being in the hospital alone for two and a half weeks. Being completely immobile for that extended time period was so rough.”
Vonn also revealed that at one point during treatment, she was in extreme pain that left a strong emotional memory of the experience.
“Halfway through, I started sweating. I was just in such extreme pain. I screamed at the top of my lungs: Get me out,” she told Vanity Fair.
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“It just wouldn’t dissipate. It wouldn’t let up. It’s seared into my brain.”
She also revealed the emotional toll of her recovery, including periods of depression, while continuing to fight through rehabilitation.
Even while recovering, Vonn has remained active in other parts of her life. She is currently involved in advocacy work and public campaigns, including Invivyd’s “Antibodies for Any Body” campaign.
She is also preparing for a major public appearance as the commencement speaker for the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism on May 15.
While she is still far from returning to competitive skiing, Vonn has said she is beginning to see progress in her recovery timeline and believes she is moving closer to a more normal life.
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Related: U.S. Skier Lindsey Vonn Gets Emotional on Important Day
This story was originally published by Parade on Apr 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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