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Olympic Skier Lindsey Vonn’s Injuries Aren’t Stopping Her From Being a Total Badass on the Slopes!
Ask anyone — Lindsey Vonn is a true athlete. The 33-year-old Olympic skier is gearing up for her comeback in the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games after sustaining massive injuries during multiple competitions. Most notably, Lindsey tore ligaments and broke bones in her right leg causing her to miss the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Thankfully, she has fully recovered and is ready to compete again.
“She’s relentless toward her goals. It’s not easy to continue to fight like she’s done,” Lindsey’s longtime sports physical therapist, Lindsay Winninger explained. “With each injury she’s had, she’s learned something about herself and her body. I believe she’s a better athlete for it.” Keep scrolling to learn more about Lindsey Vonn’s injuries!
Broken Right Arm — November 2016
She actually called the healing process after injuring her arm the “hardest recovery of my career.” During a training run, she sustained the injury. She had nerve damage and couldn’t move her fingers.
Fractures in Left Knee — February 2016
It seems like 2016 was not her year. She also fractured her left knee in a World Cup super-G in Andorra and had to be taken off the mountain in a sled.
Broken Left Ankle — August 2015
She injured her ankle during preseason training but was able to compete later that year. She was able to finally return to the slopes in November.
Torn Ligaments in Right Knee and Broken Right Leg — February 2013
Arguably the worst of her injuries happened during the super-G at the 2013 world championships in Schladming, Austria. She required reconstructive surgery and wasn’t able to attend the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Concussion — February 2011
A head injury is never good because it can cause long-term damage to the brain. Lindsey injured her head during a fall in a practice for the World Cup. She was eventually forced to withdraw.
Sadly, those aren’t even all of her injuries but they are the most recent. We’re so happy that she has recovered enough to be able to compete again.
“I used to think the huge purple scar along the back of my right arm was hideous,” she told Shape. “But the harder I worked in rehab, the more I felt like it was a badge of strength. Now I embrace it and wear sleeveless dresses and tops because the scar is part of who I am. It’s made me stronger and I’m proud to show it off.” We’re rooting for her!
