Lindsey Vonn is on the mend, but her injury was almost a whole lot worse.
The athlete had previously shared details about the surgeries she needed after breaking her tibia during a crash at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games. She recently added that she also had compartment syndrome, a condition that, like in her case, can become a life-threatening medical issue.
Lindsey recently explained in an Instagram video that compartment syndrome happens when an injury causes too much bleeding in a specific area. This buildup of blood can cut off circulation, damaging the muscles, nerves, and tendons in that area. Thanks to Dr. Tom Hackett, Lindsey was able to avoid amputation and save her leg.
Dr. Hackett performed a fasciotomy on Lindsey’s leg. This procedure involved making an incision through the tissue surrounding her calf muscle to improve blood flow and reduce pressure.
Interestingly, the 41-year-old doctor explained that Dr. Hackett—who treats both Lindsey and the U.S. Olympic team—only ended up in Italy because Lindsey had torn her ACL right before the Games and was still competing.
She explained that she often believes everything happens for a reason, and in this case, she realized that even her ACL tear – which she feels would have happened eventually – led to a positive outcome. If she hadn’t been injured, Tom wouldn’t have been there to save her leg.
Lindsey is glad to be home in Colorado, but her hospital stay ended up being longer than she anticipated. She experienced significant blood loss during her surgeries, which led to low hemoglobin levels and made recovery difficult. “I was really struggling with pain that was hard to manage,” she explained. A blood transfusion helped her turn things around, and she’s now back home and doing better.
Oh my gosh, you guys, she said she’s going to be using a wheelchair for a while now, and she also broke her ankle in the accident! But honestly, even that doesn’t keep her down! She’s already planning to go straight to rehab as soon as she can and start getting her strength back. It’s just… incredible. She’s such an inspiration, and I know she’ll come back even stronger!
Lindsey acknowledged that recovering will be challenging, but she found inspiration in watching her teammates compete. She admitted it was a difficult experience and not how she’d hoped her Olympic journey would end.
Nevertheless, the three-time medalist isn’t looking back.
She said they were continuing forward with no regrets, even though she wished things had turned out differently. She’d rather take a chance and fail than not try, and felt proud of what she’d accomplished, exceeding initial expectations.
She acknowledged that life is full of challenges and that you have to deal with them as they happen. She plans to face this new difficulty with determination, comparing herself to Rocky Balboa and his resilience in getting back on his feet after being knocked down.
For more on the athletes who competed alongside Lindsey at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, read on.
Okay, so Mikaela Shiffrin is, like, a total legend – three Olympic medals already! But honestly, she’s been through so much lately, and I’m so worried about her going into the next Olympics. The Beijing Games weren’t what anyone expected, and then that terrifying crash in November? I almost couldn’t watch! She actually punctured her abdomen and needed surgery! It’s just…she deserves so much better, and I’m really hoping she can come back strong and finally get the results she’s worked so hard for.
In a December interview with TIME, Shiffrin explained she’s acutely aware of the unpredictable nature of competition. She understands that even with perfect preparation, a medal isn’t guaranteed. However, she feels strongly supported by her coaches and team, which gives her confidence they can face any challenge together. She believes that’s all she can ask for.
Mikaela Shiffrin has been supported for years by Norwegian skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, and the two are now engaged to be married.
You know, one of the things that really helped me through this whole process was my coach. He kept reminding me that it was going to be alright, and that’s huge when you’re pushing yourself. Last season was particularly tough – I honestly wondered if I was trying to come back too quickly, or if it was even possible. But he always brought me back to myself, saying I knew my body best and I was giving it my all. He made it clear that even if things didn’t work out, that was okay too, and honestly, that permission was incredibly freeing.
After struggling with repeated knee injuries, Lindsey Vonn retired from competitive skiing in 2019. She was a five-time Olympian, achieving gold in downhill skiing and bronze in Super-G at the 2010 Winter Games, and adding another downhill bronze in 2018.
After a successful partial knee replacement in 2024 finally relieved her pain – something she hadn’t experienced since her initial surgery in 2013 – she rediscovered her love for speed.
I’ve had a good life, and I appreciate everything I’ve built outside of skiing, but nothing truly compares to the thrill of going downhill. Boarding is fun, sure, but it’s just not the same. I’m 41 now, and I told NBC News a while back that while I’m happy with where I am, I know I’ll never recapture that feeling of skiing, and I’m okay with that. Still, I’m going to savor every last bit of adrenaline while I can, because once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Vonn’s crash during a World Cup race in Switzerland on January 30th was serious enough to require a helicopter rescue, and it threatened to end her attempt to return to competition.
Despite tearing the ACL in her left knee, the experienced athlete announced on February 8th that she felt well enough to race in the women’s downhill event. She had previously stated she was prepared to take any risk to compete.
At a press conference on February 3rd, she firmly stated her determination, saying, ‘I won’t let this opportunity pass. I’m keeping my composure and holding my head high, and I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.’
Sadly, Vonn had a crash during the race and broke her tibia in a complicated way, needing several operations to fix it.
Jessie Diggins, the most accomplished American cross-country skier ever, is competing in what will be her last Olympic Games.
And the Afton, Minn., native is headed to Italy with a purpose.
In a recent Instagram post, the 34-year-old shared that they have the freedom to choose who they compete for and live according to their beliefs. They dedicated their efforts to those who show care and compassion to others, saying that these people inspire them and make them proud to represent their country. They hope to bring happiness to their supporters in the coming weeks.
After retiring, she shared with NPR’s All Things Considered that she’s looking forward to spending time gardening and, most importantly, being at home with her husband.
I remember watching Stolz make his Olympic debut way back in Beijing when he was just 17! He didn’t medal then, but now, heading into the Milan Cortina Games, everyone’s predicting he’ll be amazing. I’m really excited to see him compete – I think he has a real shot at winning gold in the 500, 1000, and 1500-meter races, plus the mass start – that’s a tough 16-lap, 6,400-meter race, but I think he’s up to the challenge!
The 21-year-old athlete believes he has a strong chance of winning gold if he performs flawlessly. Speaking to the Associated Press in January, he said he feels prepared to handle the pressure, explaining that he’s experienced many high-stakes races and doesn’t anticipate the expectations being a problem, as long as things go smoothly.
On February 11th, Stolz took the gold medal in the men’s 100m race, breaking the Olympic record with a time of 1:06.28.
Four years after making history at the Beijing Winter Olympics – becoming the first Black American woman to medal in speed skating and the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal – 500-meter champion Erin Jackson will carry her nation’s flag into the 2026 Games. She will share the honor with bobsledder Frank Del Duca at the Opening Ceremony on February 6th.
The 33-year-old from Ocala, Florida, said it was a great honor to represent the United States internationally. She explained that this wasn’t just about her, but also about her family, team, hometown, and all Americans who believe in the importance of sports.
Although she’s not retiring immediately, Jackson plans to launch an organization dedicated to helping young Black athletes achieve their goals in speed skating.
She believes seeing someone who shares your background succeed is incredibly important, and that’s been lacking in winter sports, especially speed skating. She feels proud to be a role model and hopes to inspire others to try the sport, doing everything she can to help them achieve their own success.
Kim sustained a minor labrum tear in January after dislocating her shoulder during training in Switzerland, but this wouldn’t prevent her from competing in her fourth Olympics. There, she’ll be aiming to add to her impressive record with a potential third gold medal in the women’s halfpipe event.
As a huge fan, I was really bummed to hear that she won’t be able to snowboard again until just before the Olympics – it’s going to make things incredibly tough for her. She explained in a video that she hasn’t had as much practice as she’d hoped for, but she’s staying positive about it all.
Oh my gosh, she just gave us the details! She said everything’s going to be pretty relaxed leading up to 2026, and she told NBC Olympics on January 22nd that she’s actually at home right now! Then she’s flying to Europe early next week to get some practice in before Milan. She’ll be there for the competition, of course! I’m seriously counting down the days!
And once she was there, she’d be fired up and ready to go—just like everyone else.
It’s hard to put into words what it’s like,” said Kim, who has been snowboarding since she was a child, “but it feels like everyone becomes the best version of themselves.
Gerard first won an Olympic gold medal in slopestyle at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games when he was 17 years old. Now a two-time X Games champion, he’s aiming to repeat that success at his third Olympics.
The 25-year-old, originally from Ohio and now living in Colorado, told People magazine in January that she still feels young and in great shape. She also shared that after being part of Team USA since age 13, she enjoys being a more experienced athlete and offering guidance to the younger members of the team.
Gerard explained how he handles the pressure of the Olympics: “I remind myself that it’s really no different than any other competition. Of course, it’s a much larger event with more people watching, but at its core, snowboarding is the same. I try to focus on my own performance, treat it like I always have, and block out the distractions.”
The 31-year-old snowboarder is competing in his third Olympic Games, hoping to add a gold medal to his collection after winning silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022.
Skier Ferreira believes this is his year to win a gold medal. He told the Daily Express that he’s entering the games healthy for the first time, unlike his previous two attempts where he was injured – he broke his collarbone weeks before one games and sprained his ankle just three weeks before another. He feels more prepared now, noting he’s older, more focused, and completely dedicated to achieving his goal.
Let me tell you, this guy comes from a seriously active family! Not only does he have a wonderful sister, Lourdes, but both his parents are athletes – his dad, Marcelo, actually played professional soccer in Argentina, and his mom, Colleen, was a competitive relay racer. And it doesn’t stop there – he’s also got the best teammate a person could ask for: his adorable rescue dog, Brandy, always by his side!
What I love most about Brandy is her unwavering loyalty – she doesn’t care about accomplishments or rewards. She simply greets me with a wagging tail, offering unconditional support through everything life throws my way, and I truly rely on her.
Ferreira won a silver medal at the men’s freestyle skiing slopestyle event on Feb. 10.
Hall is competing in his third Olympics, hoping to repeat his gold medal win in slopestyle. He first competed in the 2018 Games, where he finished 16th, and has since dramatically improved his performance.
Beyond potentially winning another slopestyle medal, the laid-back 27-year-old—who famously keeps his gold medal in his sock drawer and said winning once was incredible—is also hoping to do better than his eighth-place finish in Big Air at the 2022 competition.
I’m really thrilled the Olympics are coming back to Europe! As a ski enthusiast, I’m especially excited about the possibility of riding some great snow and being surrounded by those incredible European mountains – something we haven’t really had for the last couple of Games. It’s personally meaningful to me too, because my mom is Italian – she’s from Bologna, and my whole family still lives there. They’re all planning to come watch the Olympics, and it’s going to be amazing to share that with them. It’s just a really special feeling!”
The 29-year-old freestyle skier is competing in her third Olympic Games and hopes to build on the silver medal she won in Beijing.
She always knows who to ask for help, whether it’s about getting better at her sport or dealing with the stress of competing on the world stage.
Patti Sherman-Kauf is a decorated athlete: she won two championships on the World Pro Moguls Tour, even while pregnant with her daughter, and her husband, Scott Kauf, won five titles. After retiring from mogul skiing, Patti excelled in skicross, earning three bronze medals at the X Games.
Jaelin wasn’t like most babies – she preferred being bounced instead of rocked, according to her mother, Patti, in an interview with NBC Olympics.
Jaelin confessed that she didn’t initially love mogul skiing. “I’d always choose a powder day over bumps,” she told Teton Gravity Research in November 2025. However, watching her parents build careers as professional skiers showed her it was possible for her too. She explained that not everyone has that example or support, but she always felt confident she could pursue it.
Team Jaelin also includes her boyfriend, Bradley Wilson, a two-time Olympic skier who is now retired. Bradley’s brother, Bryon Wilson, who won an Olympic bronze medal and currently coaches Kauf, is also part of the team.
Kauf won a silver medal in women’s freestyle skiing moguls on Feb. 11.
Humphries’ journey has had more twists than a bobsled run.
Originally from Calgary, this 40-year-old athlete represented Team Canada in two-woman bobsled, winning gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics and a bronze medal in 2018.
In 2019, she surprised everyone in the sports world by announcing her departure from the Canadian national team after 16 years. She explained that she feared for her safety due to a harmful atmosphere within the team, which had developed before the 2018 Olympics.
In 2019, Humphries began competing for the U.S. team while telling the Associated Press she still considered herself Canadian and didn’t intend to choose between the two nationalities.
She clarified that her affection for Canada hasn’t diminished, but she’s capable of loving someone and something new just as deeply. Having lived in the U.S. for four years, she found love with an American, whom she married. Life then presented them with new opportunities, leading to choices they had to make together.
Elana Humphries became a U.S. citizen in 2021 and then went on to win a gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics in the first-ever Olympic monobob competition, which is a one-person bobsled race.
This will be her fifth Olympic Games, and a particularly special one – it’s her first since becoming a mother. She and her husband, Travis Armbruster, welcomed their son, Aulden, in June 2024.
For years, people have said that having a baby means an athlete’s body will change too much for them to return to peak performance. As Humphries told The Athletic, the common belief was that motherhood effectively ended a sports career. But she and other athletes are now showing that it’s possible to have a child and still compete at a high level – you don’t have to choose between the two.
For five-time Olympian, bobsledding is now a personal escape. Since becoming a mother with her husband, Nic Taylor, to son Nico in 2020 and then Noah in 2022, she finds time for herself through the sport. Nico has Down syndrome, and both boys are deaf—a condition caused by a gene both parents carry, which they discovered after Nico’s birth.
Even though her home life was incredibly busy, Meyers Taylor really wanted her children to see what she did at work.
As a longtime fan, it really struck me when I heard him say he knows the younger generation will face struggles he can’t even imagine. What he wants most is for them to understand that even when things get incredibly difficult, you can still chase what you believe in. He doesn’t just want to be seen as successful – he wants them to witness the whole journey, the setbacks, the times he’s fallen, and how he always found the strength to get back up and keep fighting. That’s the real message he wants to send.
Though Kaillie Meyers Taylor has earned five Olympic medals across four Games – four in two-woman bobsled and a silver in monobob at the 2022 Olympics – she’s still hoping to win her first gold medal.
Skeleton racing is undeniably cool – it’s a sport where athletes slide headfirst down an icy, winding track, reaching speeds as high as 90 miles per hour.
Ro, who in 2025 became the first American to win a medal in skeleton racing at the IBSF World Championships in over a decade, initially didn’t believe she had a chance.
She remembers her first time trying skeleton in 2016 vividly. After being told she wasn’t big enough for bobsled, she went to the top of the track with a coach, and then everything happened incredibly fast. ‘I couldn’t see or think,’ she told The Athletic. ‘When I reached the bottom, I was done. I knew I wasn’t doing that again!’
But after listening to enough people rave about how cool it was, she tried it again.
Ten years after starting her journey, the athlete from Virginia is now competing in her first Olympics. She’ll be participating in both individual events and the new mixed team event, which is being introduced at the 2026 Games.
Let me tell you, life as a dedicated athlete isn’t always glamorous! When I’m not training and competing, I actually work as a tour guide at the Lake Placid Olympic Center. It’s super rewarding to share the history of the games, and honestly, it’s something a lot of us athletes in less-publicized sports do to make ends meet. I come from a big family – I’m the second oldest of eleven, and have a twin sister who’s just fourteen minutes younger than me – so balancing everything definitely keeps me busy!
I’m completely immersed in that environment – I work and train there, it’s my life. Tourists really enjoy the tours because they’re led by an athlete who can offer a special, insider’s view. It’s a great experience, but the income from tours won’t be enough to fully fund my training and competition.
Illya Malinin comes from a figure skating family – both his parents were champions in Uzbekistan. He started skating at age 6, but as a young boy growing up in Virginia, he actually preferred playing soccer outdoors to practicing in the chilly rink.
I was absolutely blown away when Ilia Malinin landed the quadruple axel at the 2022 U.S. International Classic! He wasn’t just the first to try it in competition, he was the first – and so far, still the only one – to actually stick the landing. It was a historic moment, and as a huge skating fan, I knew I was witnessing something truly special.
Ilia Malinin, known as the “Quad God,” has successfully landed four-jump combinations many times. With Nathan Chen, previously called the “Quad King,” not competing in the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, Malinin is currently the top U.S. male skater with a strong chance of winning another individual gold medal.
Four years after not making Team USA, the 20-year-old is now concentrating on preparing himself to perform well.
I’m a huge Ilia Malinin fan, and I recently heard him explain his mindset going into competitions. He said it’s not about the medals for him at all! He focuses entirely on delivering the best performance he’s capable of, really seeing it as fulfilling his role as a skater. He puts in so much work beforehand, preparing meticulously, so he can just go out there and skate his best. He believes if he does that, the medals will naturally follow – and honestly, watching him skate, it’s clear he’s right!
He and his U.S. figure skating teammates clinched the gold medal in the teams event on Feb. 8.
After competing in the Beijing Olympics and World Championships – where she earned a bronze medal – Liu retired from competitive skating in 2022.
Liu explained to NBC News that she began her rigorous training at age five and continued until she was sixteen. Having been homeschooled throughout her life, she ultimately decided to retire at seventeen. She shared that, despite being a very social person who needs connection with others, she spent many years training in isolation, without family or friends nearby.
Honestly, it really bothered me to hear her talk about how little control she had. She explained that people chose her programs and even her outfits – things she didn’t want – and it was like she was just a doll being dressed up. She didn’t enjoy it, but felt obligated to compete in the Olympics, almost like she was doing it for the little girl she used to be.
After starting her studies at UCLA in the fall of 2023 and enjoying a typical college experience, she rediscovered her competitive spirit during a January skiing trip. By March 2024, she was officially competing again. The 20-year-old Californian went on to win a gold medal at the World Championships in 2025 and is now aiming to win a medal – and ideally another gold – for the U.S. women’s team at the 2026 Games, ending a 20-year drought for American women in the individual event.
When she takes the ice now, “it’s fully for myself,” Liu explained. “Yeah, it’s pretty cool.”
Liu and her U.S. figure skating teammates clinched the gold medal in the teams event on Feb. 8.
Oh my gosh, you guys, they’re competing in their fourth Olympics! And get this – it’s their first time competing as a married couple! They just got married in June 2024, and I’m seriously losing it that we get to watch them compete now as husband and wife. It’s just…everything!
In December, Chock explained to TopMob News that getting married strengthened their relationship and dedication to their sport. They already had a strong connection through skating, but marriage has allowed them to fully support each other as partners, both on and off the ice, in all their pursuits.
Although they helped the U.S. figure skating team win gold at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the three-time world champion pair haven’t yet earned an Olympic medal of their own.
I’ve been following Bates and the team, and honestly, they’re really dedicated – working incredibly hard and putting in long hours. But what I admire most is their gratitude. They always express how thankful they are for every single day and the chance to do what they do. It’s really inspiring to see.
Although both skaters, age 36 and 33, haven’t announced their retirement, they recognize they are nearing the end of their competitive careers.
At the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Bates told NBC Olympics that they were trying to stay focused and not get overwhelmed by the emotion of the moment, considering their 15-year partnership. They said the best reward was to perform well, but they also wanted to savor the experience, recognizing it might be their last competition. They ultimately won gold at the event.
On February 8th, the pair took home the gold medal in the team figure skating event and earned a silver medal in ice dancing.
The veteran U.S. women’s national team player, a gold medalist in 2018, has announced that the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics will be her last. At 36 years old, she’ll become the American hockey player – male or female – with the most Olympic appearances.
As a team, we’re really focused on creating the best possible environment for everyone. While, of course, winning another gold would be incredible, a lot of our players are experiencing the Olympics for the very first time! That’s huge, and my priority is making sure they feel comfortable and can truly shine. We have so much talent, and if we can unlock everyone’s full potential, that’s what will take our performance to the elite level we’re aiming for.
A University of Wisconsin graduate, this athlete currently plays hockey for the Seattle Torrent in Washington. However, she and her partner, Brittany Bowe – a veteran speed skater competing in her fourth and final Olympics shortly before turning 38 on February 24th – have made their home in Salt Lake City.
Speaking to NBC Olympics in June 2025, Knight explained that as elite athletes, they’re both skilled at recognizing what the other person needs – whether it’s encouragement or time to themselves. She added that their long experience at the highest level helps them understand each other well.
This mixed doubles curling team, who began playing together after the 2022 Beijing Olympics, is competing in their first Olympic Games as a pair. They previously finished fifth at the 2025 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship and won a world championship in 2023. The team attributes their success not only to their skill and dedication, but also to how well their personalities mesh.
Ahead of the Milan Cortina Games, skater Dropkin, 30, explained how well she and her partner, Cory, work together. “We’re good at staying relaxed and focused on the present,” she said. “We also just have great chemistry. Someone recently called us ‘the calm and the fire’ – Cory is calm and confident on the ice, while I bring a lot of energy and passion. It’s a really good balance.”
I’ve been following the journey of this incredible curler and his husband, Sam Thiesse – they actually tied the knot in June 2022! They’re both working regular jobs in Duluth, Minnesota, while pursuing their passion for curling. It’s a testament to dedication, balancing work and chasing a dream!
Dropkin works in real estate, and Thiesse is a lab technician who tests wastewater for mercury. Thiesse told Duluth’s ABC 10 that she’s thankful to have a stable job while pursuing her passion for curling, something she and her teammates have dreamed of since childhood.
The pair won a silver medal in the mixed doubles event on Feb. 10.
Read More
- How to Get the Bloodfeather Set in Enshrouded
- Every Targaryen Death in Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon & AKOTSK, Ranked
- The Best Members of the Flash Family
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- 4 TV Shows To Watch While You Wait for Wednesday Season 3
- The Pitt Season 2, Episode 7 Recap: Abbot’s Return To PTMC Shakes Things Up
- Where Winds Meet: How To Defeat Shadow Puppeteer (Boss Guide)
- Duffer Brothers Discuss ‘Stranger Things’ Season 1 Vecna Theory
- Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion #2 Is the Most Basic Crossover Chapter Imaginable
- James Gunn Teases the Future of the DCU After Netflix Purchase
2026-02-23 20:23