Lindsey Vonn’s sister insists the Olympic icon is ‘super strong’ despite her gruesome leg break after battling through a ‘rough’ week in hospital.
Vonn, 41, underwent four surgeries in Italy after fracturing her complex tibia in a horror skiing crash at the Winter Olympics.
The serious damage suffered to her leg requires multiple procedures, while one specialist has warned that some similar injuries even require amputation.
Following her older sister’s fourth op on Saturday, and release from hospital on Sunday, Karin Kildow has told TMZ Sports that she is now taking it ‘one day at a time.’
‘It’s been a rough one, been in the hospital a lot,’ Kildow, 37, admitted. ‘Just one day at a time. She’s super strong, but there’s a lot of surgeries and things. We’re working on getting her back to the U.S.’
On Monday night, Vonn confirmed she had returned home and paid tribute to hospital staff in Europe. ‘[I] haven’t stood on my feet in over a week… been in a hospital bed immobile since my race,’ she posted on social media.
Lindsey Vonn’s sister insists the Olympic icon is ‘super strong’ despite her gruesome leg break
The 41-year-old Vonn has undergone four surgeries after a horror crash at the Winter Olympics
‘And although I’m not yet able to stand, being back on home soil feels amazing… huge thank you to everyone in Italy for taking good care of me.’
Critics on social media have questioned Vonn’s decision to compete in the women’s downhill race on the day after suffering a torn ACL in the lead-up to it.
But Karin says the family are not paying any attention to the negativity online.
‘You know what? Everyone’s gonna have their thing to say, I think… but she’s strong and she did it,’ she concluded.
Earlier on Monday, Vonn shared a behind-the-scenes video from hospital on Instagram, which shows her undergoing exercises, having her hair washed and being fed dinner while stepping up her recovery.
She also included the caption: ‘Thankful for friends, family, my team and all the medical staff that are getting me back to myself…. I’m slowly coming back to life, back to basics and the simple things in life that mean the most. Smile. Laugh. Love.
‘My sister @kar_inthegarage made this video and it instantly made me cry and made my heart full. Love you guys’.
Vonn lost control last Sunday over the opening traverse after cutting the line too tight and was spun around in the air.
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She shared a behind-the-scenes video of the recovery process in hospital on Monday
The skiing legend suffered a broken left leg after she crashed in the women’s downhill race
She was heard screaming out after the crash as she was surrounded by medical personnel before she was strapped to a gurney and flown away by a helicopter.
Last week, a defiant Vonn also suggested that she will one day ski again despite fears that she could lose her left leg.
In an emotional post, the iconic skier added that she had no regrets about competing in the downhill event – she had torn her ACL in her left knee days before the crash, something she insists had no influence over what happened – and remarkably vowed to ski again one day in the future.
While she surely meant it in a recreational sense rather than trying once again to compete at the highest level, she said: ‘Please, don’t feel sad. The ride was worth the fall. When I close my eyes at night I don’t have regrets and the love I have for skiing remains.
‘I am still looking forward to the moment when I can stand on the top of the mountain once more. And I will.’
