• American skier Lindsey Vonn nearly lost her leg after a crash at the Winter Olympics.
• Surgery performed by Dr. Tom Hackett prevented amputation, involving a fasciotomy.
• Vonn is out of the hospital and transitioning from a wheelchair to crutches.
• She faced multiple fractures and compartment syndrome from the injuries.
• Vonn is committed to a lengthy rehabilitation process, aiming for full recovery.

Lindsey Vonn, the renowned American skier, faced a life-threatening injury during her downhill race at the 2026 Winter Olympics, revealing that she almost had her left leg amputated. Following a crash that left her with severe fractures and complications, Vonn said she is now out of the hospital more than two weeks post-incident. In an Instagram video, she described her injuries, highlighting a complex tibia fracture and compartment syndrome, a condition where pressure builds up around muscles and can disrupt blood flow, making her situation critical, according to CBS News, Reuters, and Los Angeles Times.

Vonn credited Dr. Tom Hackett, her orthopedic surgeon, for saving her leg through a procedure known as a fasciotomy, which involved surgically cutting open the sides of her leg to relieve pressure. She detailed the extreme nature of her injuries, stating, "He saved my leg from being amputated," and mentioned the emotional and physical toll of her recovery. Vonn expressed the painful ordeal she endured, requiring multiple surgeries and a blood transfusion due to significant blood loss, as reported by Reuters and Los Angeles Times.

The accident occurred just 13 seconds into her highly-anticipated Olympic run, following a prior rupture of her ACL that she sustained shortly before the games. Vonn emphasized that, without the prior injury, Dr. Hackett might not have been present to assist her. She reaffirmed her resilience, stating, "It has been quite the journey and by far the most extreme and painful and challenging injury," as she focuses on her rehabilitation process, aiming to transition from a wheelchair to crutches in a few weeks, according to CBS News and Los Angeles Times.

As she continues her recovery, Vonn anticipates that it will take around a year for her bones to heal and will decide afterward whether to undergo further surgery to fix her ACL. "But I'm going to get right to work on rehab and see what I can do and take it one step at a time," she stated, portraying determination to overcome the significant challenges ahead, as noted by Reuters and Los Angeles Times.