Lindsey Vonn is insistent on one day returning to the sport of skiing, despite suffering a horrifying crash at the Winter Olympics, which sparked fears that she could have a leg amputated. The Team USA athlete was just 13 seconds into her run in the women’s downhill on Sunday, when she lost her balance after clipping a gate and slammed into the slopes of Cortina.

After receiving treatment at the scene for a lengthy period, the 41-year-old was airlifted to the hospital, where she was told that she had suffered a complex tibial fracture, which would require multiple surgeries to repair. After having four procedures thus far on the road to recovery, Vonn took to Instagram on Saturday to share an update with followers, in which she shared a desire to one day return to the piste. She wrote: “Surgery went well today! Thankfully, I will be able to finally go back to the US!

“Once I’m back I will give you more updates and info about my injury…But until then, as I sit here in my bed reflecting, I have a few thoughts I’d like to share…I have been reading a lot of messages and comments saying that what has happened to me makes them sad.

“Please, don’t be sad. Empathy, love and support I welcome with an open heart, but please not sadness or sympathy. I hope instead it gives you strength to keep fighting, because that is what I am doing and that is what I will continue to do. Always.

“When I think back on my crash, I didn’t stand in the starting gate unaware of the potential consequences. I knew what I was doing. I chose to take a risk. Every skier in that starting gate took the same risk. Because even if you are the strongest person in the world, the mountain always holds the cards.

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“I was willing to risk and push and sacrifice for something I knew I was absolutely capable of doing. I will always take the risk of crashing while giving it my all, rather than not ski to my potential and have regret. I never want to cross finish line and say, ‘What if?’

“And to be perfectly honest, I was stronger physically in that moment than I have been often in the past. Certainly stronger than I was when I ended career in 2019 where I got a bronze medal in the World Championships. And mentally…Mentally I was perfect. Clear, focused, hungry, aggressive yet completely calm…just as I had practiced over the past few months when I was on the podium in every downhill this season. 2 wins and leading the standings…that was all a test to prepare me for the Olympics.

“Mentally, I was more ready than I have ever been. But just because I was ready, that didn’t guarantee me anything. Nothing in life is guaranteed. That’s the gamble of chasing your dreams, you might fall but if you don’t try you’ll never know.

“So please, don’t feel sad. The ride was worth the fall. When I close my eyes at night I don’t have regrets and the love I have for skiing remains. I am still looking forward to the moment when I can stand on the top of the mountain once more. And I will.”

It comes as Vonn has been tipped to represent the United States at the 2030 Winter Olympics by snowboarding legend, Shaun White. When asked about the feasibility of such a feat coming to fruition, the 39-year-old said: “Oh, for sure. She’s impressive. Lindsey, you’re a legend. You inspire us all.

“You’re going to go down in history as the greatest and there’s no disputing that. The fact that she came back from previous injuries and got back out on the mountain and then started to win, that’s just got to be the most incredible feeling.

“But I’ve always told athletes, it’s never a straight path to the Olympics. There’s twists and turns and she hit a big hurdle, which was injuring the knees again.”

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