Lindsey Vonn surprised fans at the 2026 ESPY Awards by revealing that her right ankle remains broken, five months after the serious injuries she suffered at the Winter Olympics.
The American alpine skiing icon arrived at the Los Angeles event in a striking one-shouldered black sequined Gucci gown, making an immediate impression on the red carpet.
Although she looked composed and glamorous at the ceremony, Vonn was open about the difficult progress of her recovery and how far she still has to go.
During a red carpet conversation with People, the three-time Olympic medalist explained that returning to the gym has been an important breakthrough, even if the overall healing process has been frustratingly slow.
“I’m working out in the gym finally, which has been a huge step forward for me, but it’s been a very slow process,” Vonn confessed.
“It’s been five months since I’ve been able to actually go to the gym in a somewhat meaningful way, and walking is still actually really hard for me.”
Vonn has spent much of the past several months documenting her rehabilitation, including early mobility work, gym sessions, and the long road back from the multiple surgeries she underwent after the crash.
She then shared one of the most startling details of her recovery, confirming that one of her injuries has still not fully healed.
“My ankle is still broken, but you know, one thing at a time. My leg is healing, and that’s important.”
Simply appearing on the red carpet under her own power marked a major milestone, given how long she had been unable to walk independently after the crash.
“I was in a wheelchair for so long, I was on crutches for so long,” Vonn confessed.
She added, “It was honestly almost three and a half months that I was unable to walk unassisted. I got very emotional when I was able to walk on my own.”
Her recovery began after a brutal crash in the women’s downhill at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on February 8. Just 13 seconds into the race, Vonn slammed into a safety gate at close to 60 mph, leaving her with a shattered left leg and a broken right ankle.
The situation had already been serious before that run, as Vonn had torn the ACL in her left knee during training in Switzerland only nine days earlier and still decided to compete.
What followed was an intense medical ordeal. She underwent five surgeries in total and at one stage came close to losing her left leg after developing compartment syndrome, a dangerous condition caused by severe pressure building up in the muscles that required emergency fasciotomy surgery.
Even with that long list of injuries and procedures behind her, Vonn carried herself with the same determination that defined her career throughout the evening.
She has made clear that recovery remains a day-by-day challenge, but her appearance at the ESPYs showed that even serious setbacks have not diminished her resilience.