Lindsey Vonn Details Mental Health Battle After 2026 Olympics Crash

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Lindsey Vonn is facing an uphill battle.

Just under two weeks after suffering a broken leg in a crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the skier is opening up about the emotional challenges she’s facing as she recovers.

Lindsey shared on X (formerly Twitter) on February 24th that while her physical recovery began immediately after her injury, the emotional challenge really started today. She described the feeling as overwhelming and sudden.

I’m accustomed to this kind of challenge, having faced it many times before,” the 41-year-old explained. “I’ve always grown from my injuries, and each one has helped me become stronger in its own way. However, the mental struggle can be incredibly difficult and never-ending.

Lindsey was told she’s skilled at understanding people and navigating life’s challenges, and although she’s not sure she fully agrees, she’s ready to face the difficult process of healing.

She acknowledged difficult times were ahead, but expressed confidence she would overcome them and regain her former success and happiness.

After her accident—which required a longer hospital stay than anticipated because of blood loss and surgery—the four-time Olympian has openly discussed how the injuries and recovery process have affected her.

Lindsey shared in an Instagram video on February 23rd that she was going through a difficult time with intense pain. She needed a blood transfusion, which significantly improved her condition and allowed her to start recovering. She feels much better now and is on the mend.

She revealed she would need to use a wheelchair for now, saying, “It’s been a tough experience, and it wasn’t how I pictured finishing the Olympics, but I’ve been so motivated by watching my teammates compete.”

Lindsey found a silver lining in her injury, noting it could have been far more serious. She had experienced compartment syndrome, but thankfully, it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.

Oh my gosh, it’s terrifying to think about, but basically, compartment syndrome happens when you injure yourself so badly that blood builds up and gets trapped. It just… crushes everything inside your muscle compartment – the muscles, nerves, tendons… everything starts to die. And Dr. Hackett? He’s a miracle worker! Seriously, he saved my leg. He actually saved it from having to be amputated. I owe him everything!

Okay, so I always say everything happens for a reason, and honestly, this just proves it! If I hadn’t completely torn my ACL – and I really think I would have eventually, even without the crash – then Tom wouldn’t have even been there. He was the one who saved my leg, seriously! It’s just…mind-blowing to think about how everything had to happen exactly as it did for him to be there for me. It’s like fate or something!

Although Lindsey didn’t have the Olympic run she hoped for in 2026, here are some other athletes who achieved amazing things at the Winter Games.

I was absolutely thrilled watching the Norwegian skier dominate at the 2026 Olympics! He took home an incredible six gold medals, which brought his total to eleven throughout his career. It’s amazing – he now holds the record for the most gold medals ever won by any athlete at the Winter Games. What a legend!

I was absolutely thrilled to watch the American speed skater win gold in the men’s 1000m! Not only did he take first place, but he completely smashed the Olympic record with an incredible time of 1:06.28. It was an amazing performance!

(Days later, he set yet another Olympic speed skating record.)

The ski racer made history by winning an Olympic gold medal. This victory was especially significant because it marked Brazil’s first-ever medal in the Winter Olympics, and the first for the entire continent of South America.

The Team USA snowboarder earned a silver medal in the women’s halfpipe, making her the first woman to win three medals in a row in the event.

She made history as the first woman to successfully land a cab double 1080 during the Olympic halfpipe final.

The 22-year-old is the first Black woman to play for Team USA women’s hockey at the Olympics. 

The cross-country skier is the first woman to represent Mexico in the sport at the Olympics. 

The U.S. curling team won the country’s first-ever silver medal in the mixed doubles competition.

This athlete is the first woman from South Africa to compete in skeleton at the Olympic Games.

An American cross-country skier won a silver medal in the men’s sprint classical race, ending the United States’ 50-year wait for a medal in the event.

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2026-02-25 01:19