American ski star Lindsey Vonn has reportedly been released from hospital in Italy.
nearly a week after a horrific accident ended her Olympic comeback.
Vonn, 41, was airlifted from the piste after crashing just 13 seconds into her final race at the women’s downhill final in Cortina last Sunday (February 8).
Team USA athletes reported that she was heard screaming after the accident while being surrounded by medical personnel. She was initially taken to a hospital in Cortina before being transferred to a larger medical facility in Treviso.
The Reuters news agency is now reporting, citing two sources close to the matter, that the skier has been discharged and flown to Treviso airport.
Vaughan has shared updates from his hospital bed. Photo: Lindsey Vonn via Instagram/Reuters
Vonn said in a post on Instagram on Saturday that her fourth surgery of the week “went well”, adding, “Thankfully I’ll finally be able to go back to the US! I’ll give you more updates and details on my injury once I’m back.”
According to orthopaedic experts, Vaughn suffered a complex tibia fracture in the accident – which took eight to 11 months to heal. He has another operation scheduled in the United States.
“When I think about my accident, I was standing at the starting gate aware of the potential consequences,” Vonn said in her post. “I knew what I was doing. I chose to take the risk.
“Every skier in that starting gate took the same risk. Even if you are the strongest person in the world, the mountain always has the upper hand.
Vonn, the 2010 Olympic champion and second-most successful female World Cup skier of all time, was hoping to become the oldest alpine skiing medallist in the history of the Games.
Vonn crashed after clipping one of the slalom gates. Photo: AP
She was competing in the Olympic final just a week after tearing her ACL in a crash at a World Cup event in Switzerland.
She said, “My love for skiing is still there. I’m still waiting for the moment when I can stand on top of a mountain once again. And I will do that.”
