Context:

In a Vanity Fair interview, Lindsey Vonn says it’s too early to know if she’ll race again and emphasizes she won’t close the door on anything. She recounts a severe crash that nearly cost her left leg, detailing a sequence of surgeries and a high-stakes effort to save her leg. The piece traces her arduous recovery, the public support she’s received, and her frustration that her comeback is overshadowed by the crash. It also notes her earlier retirement, a knee replacement that preceded a return to racing, and the high bar she set before the injury. Looking ahead, she signals openness to future possibilities while prioritizing recovery and further training.

Dive Deeper:

• Vonn describes in depth a devastating crash that triggered a complex set of leg injuries and threatened limb function, leading to urgent surgeries to relieve pressure and stabilize the limb.

• Her medical team performed multiple operations, including a major procedure to relieve swelling and several follow-ups to close soft tissue and bone injuries, highlighting the aggressive measures taken to salvage her leg.

• She relocated from the crash site to a hospital in another country, endured a challenging initial recovery, and then returned to her home country for continued treatment and rehabilitation.

• Post-crash recovery involves an intensive routine: dual daily sessions with a physical therapist, additional time in a hyperbaric chamber, and a strict gym regimen to rebuild strength and range of motion.

• Despite support from prominent figures and fans, she laments that readers may remember her for the crash rather than her pre-olympic accomplishments, which included leading the standings and notable podium streaks.

• Her athletic arc includes a prior retirement due to accumulated injuries, a knee replacement that preceded a return to competition, and a season dominated by downhill results before the crash.

• A prior ACL tear and knee-related injuries before the Olympics are noted as part of a history that intensified her determination to compete, with coaches attributing the crash to a small misstep rather than a knee failure.