Lindsey Vonn reveals amputation was in play after crash at Olympics

Lindsey Vonn crashed at the 2026 Winter Olympics, broke her leg and was airlifted to a hospital. Here are the latest injury updates today.

Lindsey Vonn revealed she could have lost her leg as the result of her crash in the downhill at the Milano Cortina Olympics.

In an Instagram post Monday, Feb. 23, Vonn detailed injuries that were far more extensive than initially known. In addition to the complex tibial fracture in her left leg, Vonn said she had a tibial plateau fracture and fractured fibular head. She also broke her right ankle.

Vonn also had compartment syndrome, and said that was what posed the greatest threat.

"Compartment syndrome is when you have so much trauma to one area of your body, that there's too much blood, and it gets stuck, and it basically crushes everything in the compartment," Vonn said "All the muscle and nerves and tendons, it all kind of dies. And Dr. Tom Hackett saved my leg. He saved my leg from being amputated."

Excessive pressure building up inside a muscle, either from bleeding or swelling, causes compartment syndrome. The pressure restricts blood flow and can lead to permanent injury if not treated quickly.