American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn has undergone her ninth operation following her devastating crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics, with another six to nine months of recovery expected as she prepares to address a fresh anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
The 42-year-old revealed that surgeons removed the hardware fitted during her previous eight procedures to repair serious injuries to her leg and ankle.
In a video shared on social media ahead of the operation, Vonn admitted she was nervous but hopeful that the procedure would mark the end of her long series of surgeries.
She said she was “praying” it would be her final operation and described herself as anxious but excited about the possibility of putting the ordeal behind her.
Vonn explained that she had waited nine months for her bones to heal sufficiently before undergoing the latest procedure.
She said the successful healing of her bones was encouraging, although the ACL injury would require another six to nine months of recovery.
The latest setback follows a horrific crash during the women’s Olympic downhill event in Cortina, where Vonn struck a gate and fell just 13 seconds into her run.
The accident occurred nine days after she had ruptured ligaments in her left knee, raising further concerns about the extent of her injuries.
Vonn previously disclosed that the severity of the damage had been such that the medical procedures she underwent helped prevent the possible amputation of her leg.
The 2010 Olympic downhill champion retired from professional skiing in 2019 after battling repeated injuries but made a surprise return in 2024 following a partial replacement of her right knee.
Despite her injury struggles, Vonn remains one of the most successful alpine skiers in history, having won 84 World Cup races.
She ranks second on the all-time women’s World Cup victories list, behind compatriot Mikaela Shiffrin.
Her latest operation marks another difficult chapter in a career defined by major achievements and repeated battles against serious injuries.
