Lindsey Vonn is preparing to leave Italy a week after Winter Olympics accident, US Ski Team boss says

Lindsey Vonn is preparing to return to the United States, the head of the U.S. ski team told The News on Sunday, saying the champion skier was preparing to fly back home for additional treatment after sweeping the Olympic women’s downhill competition last weekend.

Sophie Goldschmidt, president and CEO of the United States Ski and Snowboard Association, told the AP that the team’s medical staff has been coordinating Vonn’s recovery since the accident and subsequent helicopter evacuation at the Milan Cortina Games and would try to escort her home. vonn has had multiple surgeries in Italy to repair a complex tibia fracture in his left leg.

“We’re working on all of that right now,” Goldschmidt said. “We have a great team to help her and she will return to the US for more surgeries.”

Viewers tune in to see Vonn try to win a medal At age 41, with a torn ACL in her left knee and a partial titanium replacement in her right knee, she was shocked when the American standout snagged a gate 13 seconds into her run, resulting in a spinning, mid-air crash that sent her careening down the Dolomites mountain.

“The impact, the silence, everyone was in shock. And you could tell it was a really nasty injury,” said Goldschmidt, who was present for the fall. “There is a lot of danger in practicing all types of alpine sports, but it allows you to appreciate how superhuman these athletes are.

“I mean, putting your body on the line, going at those speeds, the physicality. Sometimes in broadcasting, it’s very difficult to convey that,” Goldschmidt added. “Danger sometimes attracts fans and is quite captivating. Obviously we hope we don’t have injuries like this, but unfortunately it is part and parcel of our sport.”

Vonn said Friday that she hoped to have another surgery for the leg injury, which was scheduled for Saturday. In a video shared on social media, Vonn told her followers that she could potentially return to the U.S. after surgery if all went well. At that point, she had already undergone three surgeries since her accident.

But Vonn has no regrets about skiing in the 2026 Olympics.

“When I think about my accident, I didn’t stand at the starting gate unaware of the possible consequences,” Vonn said in an Instagram post Saturday night. “I knew what I was doing. I chose to take a risk. Every skier at that starting gate took the same risk. Because even if you are the strongest person in the world, the mountain always holds the cards.

“But the fact that I was prepared didn’t guarantee anything. Nothing in life is guaranteed. That’s the gamble of chasing your dreams, you may fall, but if you don’t try you’ll never know,” Vonn added.

Goldschmidt visited Vonn in the hospital twice and said, “She’s not in pain. She’s in stable condition.”

“She took an aggressive line and went all-in, and was inches away from what could have ended in a very different way,” Goldschmidt said. “But what she has done for our sports and sports in general, being a role model, has gone to a whole new level. You often learn more about people during these difficult times than when they are winning.”