Lindsey Vonn disclosed that her ankle remains fractured five months after a severe crash during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The 41-year-old skiing icon shared the concerning health update at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
"It's been a very slow process," Vonn told People.com. "It's been five months since I've been able to actually go to the gym in a somewhat meaningful way. And walking is actually still really hard for me."
Despite undergoing eight surgeries and months of rehabilitation, Vonn appeared at the awards ceremony seemingly without visible signs of her injuries, aided by a floor-length gown. The crash occurred in February while she was competing with a torn ACL, resulting in a fractured tibia that at one point put her left leg at risk of amputation. Despite these challenges, Vonn has expressed her determination to return to skiing.
The day prior to the ESPY Awards, Vonn led tributes to fellow American alpine skier TJ Lanning, who died on July 2 in Park City, Utah, at the age of 41. The cause of Lanning's death has not been released.
Vonn, who had known Lanning since childhood, posted an emotional tribute on Instagram. "TJ (aka crowbar jr) - we've known each other since we were 12," she wrote. "We shared a lot of memories on the mountain. I hope you are at peace my friend. We will all miss you. Until we meet again."
Lanning's own promising skiing career was cut short in 2009 by a significant injury sustained in a crash in Lake Louise, Canada. He suffered a fractured neck and a severe left knee injury, which ultimately led to his retirement and transition into coaching for the United States team.
An announcement regarding Lanning's death stated that his "impact on our sport went far beyond his years of competition." Ski Racing Media described Lanning's career as "marked by promise, pain, persistence and impact," adding that he "brought the sport moments of genuine excitement and, later, gave back through coaching." His early passing was noted as a profound loss for the American ski racing community.