Lindsey Vonn's Response to Accusations of Selfishness During Olympics

Lindsey Vonn, 41, took to Instagram on Saturday, February 21, to defend her choice to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics despite tearing her ACL just nine days earlier. She expressed gratitude for her achievements and memories from the recent races.

After breaking her left tibia during the Olympic downhill event on February 8, Vonn provided an update on her recovery to her fans. She underwent multiple surgeries and faced criticism for her decision to compete after the initial ACL tear.

Vonn faced a setback during the Games when she broke her left tibia just 13 seconds into her first run on February 8. She underwent surgeries in Italy and the United States, receiving criticism for competing despite her injuries.

In response to critics, Vonn listed her accomplishments in an Instagram post, emphasizing the effort it took to earn her spot in the Olympics. She clarified that her crash was not related to her previous ACL injury.

Following the crash, Vonn also mourned the loss of her dog Leo, who passed away after her leg injury. She shared her emotional journey on Instagram, including details of her recovery process and the challenges she faced.

Vonn shared x-ray images of her broken leg, showing the extensive hardware used to stabilize it, and thanked her medical team for their work. She explained that her crash was due to a misjudgment during the race, unrelated to her prior ACL injury.