Lindsey Vonn nonetheless in ‘survival mode’ after Olympic crash and uncertain whether or not to retire

The 2010 Olympic downhill champion stated she has “another surgical procedure left to take out the steel and to exchange my [anterior cruciate ligament] ACL” after which a prolonged interval of recuperation.

“As soon as I get my ACL mounted, then that is one other six months, so I’ve not less than a 12 months and a half forward of me earlier than I might actually be again to 100%, even simply coaching within the gymnasium,” she added.

Vonn was racing on the Olympics in Cortina 9 days after rupturing ligaments in her left knee when she struck a gate and crashed 13 seconds into her downhill run.

She was airlifted off the piste and identified with a posh tibia fracture in her left leg.

“I am nonetheless in survival mode. I simply wish to get by this part and be capable to assess the place I’m in my life,” stated Vonn, who received her two world titles in 2009.

“I do not wish to decide now as a result of I believe that might be rash and doubtless too emotional and I do not wish to make a mistake.”

Vonn, who has received 84 World Cup races and is second within the all-time ladies’s listing behind fellow American Mikaela Shiffrin, suffered numerous critical leg accidents earlier than initially retiring from the game in 2019.

After having a partial proper knee alternative, she introduced her shock return in 2024.

Vonn had been tipped to win a medal at her fifth and last Olympics, and competed regardless of struggling the ACL damage in Switzerland within the final World Cup race earlier than the Video games.

She described the damage on the Video games as “a lot completely different” to any of her earlier ones when it comes to “the severity of the damage and understanding that I might have misplaced my leg and the way unhealthy issues have been”.

She added: “I can take care of loads of ache, however this was so excessive. It is not even been within the universe of ache as what I’ve had earlier than.”