Cristiano Ronaldo sends heartfelt message to Lindsey Vonn after American skiing star suffers career-threatening Winter Olympic crash in Milano-Cortina

Cristiano Ronaldo sent an emotional message to Lindsey Vonn after the American skiing legend opened up about the severity of her crash at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.

The 41-year-old athlete sustained a devastating combination of injuries, including a complex tibia fracture, fractured fibula head, broken ankle, and compartment syndrome, after clipping the first gate during her downhill run just over two weeks ago.

Vonn Faces the Reality of Her Injuries

Vonn was airlifted off the slope and underwent an intense six-hour surgery to save her leg. Only recently discharged, she shared a candid update on social media, visibly emotional as she explained how close she had come to amputation.

“Compartment syndrome is when you have so much trauma to one area that there is too much blood and it gets stuck.

It basically crushes everything – muscles, nerves, tendons,” Vonn explained.

Her surgeon, Dr. Tom Hackett, performed a fasciotomy to relieve the pressure and save her leg.

Vonn will now spend at least a year recovering her bones before deciding whether to remove metal pins and repair her ACL.

Ronaldo Speaks From Experience

Ronaldo, now at Al-Nassr, understands the mindset of a competitive athlete facing adversity.

Under Vonn’s social media post, he wrote:

“Champions are defined by the moments they win, and the moments they refuse to give up.

The mountains you conquered were never bigger than the strength you carry.

Keep fighting. Legends always rise.”

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Vonn replied, touched, saying, “Coming from you, this means so much.”

Other stars, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Allyson Felix, Marion Bartoli, and Garbine Muguruza, also left supportive messages.

The Mental and Physical Toll of Recovery

While her body heals, Vonn is confronting the mental strain of such a traumatic crash. She shared on X:

“Today was a hard day… my physical battle began the second I got hurt but the mental battle started today… Each one [injury] has made me a better and stronger person in different ways… but the battle of the mind can be dark and hard and unrelenting.”

Vonn is currently wheelchair-bound and will remain so for some time as her leg recovers.

She joked about her new reality, posting an X-ray showing dozens of metal pins, saying she is now “bionic for real.”

A Storied Career Interrupted, Not Ended

Vonn had torn her ACL just a week before the Games but had pushed herself to compete regardless.

Now, she faces over a year before full ACL surgery is possible.

This setback, while physically and mentally taxing, has not diminished her spirit.

She remains determined to “find a way back to the top of the mountain of life,” showing resilience that has defined her entire career.

What’s Next?

Vonn’s recovery journey will be long and carefully managed.

Surgeons will monitor the healing of her leg bones over the next 12 months, after which she may undergo ACL reconstruction and removal of the metal pins.

Her focus will be on regaining strength, mobility, and mental resilience, with the goal of eventually returning to high-level skiing and remaining active in the sport she loves.

Meanwhile, fans and fellow athletes continue to rally around her, offering encouragement and sharing stories of their own comebacks, highlighting the global admiration for Vonn’s perseverance.

Summary

Lindsey Vonn suffered multiple severe leg injuries during her Winter Olympic return at Milano-Cortina, including fractures and compartment syndrome, requiring extensive surgery and leaving her wheelchair-bound.

Cristiano Ronaldo and other sporting stars offered messages of support, recognizing her resilience and competitive spirit.

Recovery will take over a year, with careful monitoring of her bones and eventual ACL repair, while Vonn battles the psychological and physical challenges of such a serious injury.