Skiing fans were devastated when Lindsey Vonn’s long-awaited comeback at the Milan Cortina Games ended in a frightening crash just 13 seconds into the February 8 downhill event. Racing at high speed, she went down hard and had to be airlifted off the course by helicopter. Doctors later confirmed a complex tibial fracture in her left leg along with a ruptured ACL, abruptly stopping what many had hoped would be a triumphant return. In the days that followed, support poured in from across the sports world.

Among those sending a powerful message was Novak Djokovic. The tennis legend took to his Instagram story to reshare a post Vonn had uploaded – a sweet video compilation put together by her sister, Karin Kildow, from Ca’ Foncello Hospital in Treviso, where Vonn had been recovering since Sunday. Keeping his reaction simple but heartfelt, Djokovic gave a four-word reaction.

“Inspiration! You are a HERO 🦸‍♀️🙌💪❤️,” wrote the 24-time Grand Slam champion, Novak Djokovic, as he saluted her resilience and fighting spirit.

In the clips, the 41-year-old had her hair washed and braided, worked closely with her physiotherapist on improving mobility in her left leg, and stretched carefully as part of her rehab. She was also seen eating well, staying hydrated, and even doing a bit of skincare. Despite everything, she appeared to be in good spirits, steadily working her way back and preparing for her return home to America.

You see, Lindsey Vonn’s legendary toughness was pushed to the limit after her crash, as she underwent four separate orthopedic surgeries to stabilize the fracture in her leg. Even with a titanium frame and an external fixator clearly visible, she refused to dwell on what went wrong. Instead, she stood firm in a “no regrets” mindset, making it clear that she owned her decision to race.

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Although Vonn wasn’t able to complete her 2026 Olympic run, Team USA still had a moment to celebrate. Her teammate Breezy Johnson stepped up in a big way, capturing gold by the slimmest of margins, just 0.04 seconds. Meanwhile, Vonn was discharged from the hospital on February 16 and began preparing for her return to the United States, where she’ll undergo more specialized procedures and begin long-term rehabilitation.

Through it all, there’s been concern from those closest to her. Her father, Alan Kildow, reportedly doesn’t want her to ski anymore after everything she’s endured. But Vonn’s mindset hasn’t shifted. Just two days ago, she shared a heartfelt message on Instagram: “I am still looking forward to the moment when I can stand on the top of the mountain once more. And I will. 💪🏻❤️”

But should she really ski?

In skiing, crashes are part of the sport. But in Vonn’s case, she was racing with what she described as a “100%” torn ACL. And the severity of the injury didn’t go unnoticed, as even U.S. Ski & Snowboard president and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt called it a “nasty injury.” Still, despite the graphic nature of the injury, Vonn has remained confident in her choice.

Of course, Vonn isn’t standing alone in this chapter of her journey. Along with public encouragement from Novak Djokovic, she’s also received support from other tennis legends who have rallied behind her.

Prayers pour in for Lindsey Vonn’s speedy comeback

Support poured in for Lindsey Vonn on Wednesday after she revealed on Instagram that she had undergone a successful third surgery on the broken leg she suffered in a crash at the Winter Olympics. Some of the biggest names on the ATP Tour quickly filled her comments with encouragement, showing just how respected she is across the sports world.

Novak Djokovic kept his message simple, writing on his Instagram Story, “Heal well, legend,❤️‍🩹.”

Carlos Alcaraz, currently No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, responded with “🙏🏽🥹,” while Jannik Sinner added a “🙏.” Rafael Nadal chimed in with “💪🏼😘,” and players like Karen Khachanov, Frances Tiafoe, and Fabio Fognini also made sure she felt their support.

The encouragement means even more, considering how much Vonn has always loved tennis. She’s long been a fan of the tour and has openly supported stars like Roger Federer and Sinner over the years. In fact, she was right there in the stands at the 2025 US Open final, watching Alcaraz and Sinner battle it out.

Even though she retired in 2019, this marked Vonn’s fifth Olympics and her first appearance since 2018. The competitive fire clearly never left her. With 84 World Cup victories, an Olympic gold medal from 2010, and two Olympic bronze medals already to her name, she came into these Games determined to chase even more history.

Now back home from the hospital, Vonn shared an honest update on X: “Haven’t stood on my feet in over a week. been in a hospital bed, immobile since my race. 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🙏🏻.”

For now, the 41-year-old hasn’t said whether she plans to ski again. But knowing Vonn’s relentless drive, it may just be a matter of time before she decides what comes next, and the sports world will be watching.