CROCKED Lindsey Vonn is in “survival mode” following her dramatic crash at the Winter Olympics – but she has not ruled out a possible comeback.
The American alpine legend, 41, has yet to decide if she will race again on the World Cup circuit or hang up her ski poles for good.
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Lindsey Vonn crashed at the Winter Olympics and had to be airlifted to the hospital Credit: Reuters
She narrowly missed having to have her leg amputated Credit: Reuters
For now, the five-time Olympian is recovering physically and emotionally from a frightening moment on the Cortina slopes in Italy in February.
Vonn has undergone EIGHT surgeries after suffering a complex left leg fracture – one that nearly led to a leg amputation – in the women’s downhill skiing race.
She needs at least one more to repair a torn ACL in that same knee.
In a chat with AP, she says any potential return to the sport is at least a year and a half away.
VONN A ROLL
Lindsey Vonn flashes bra in bold outfit as she goes out in New York on crutches
vonn she goes
Lindsey Vonn to undergo sixth surgery to fix horrifically broken leg
Vonn said: “I just don’t want to jump to any conclusions or even speculate on what I might do.
“I may retire. I may never race again and that would be completely fine, but I’m not in a position emotionally to make that decision at this point.”
Vonn – who has a titanium implant in her right knee from a previous op – added: “I can deal with a lot of pain, but this was so extreme.
“It’s not even been in the universe of pain with this injury as what I’ve had before.
Vonn has not decided on whether she will return to skiing Credit: Getty
If she does return it won’t be for at least a year and a half Credit: Splash News
“Regardless, nothing would really happen until 2027-28 because I still have one more surgery left to take out the metal and to replace my ACL. That still needs to happen.
“Once I get my ACL fixed, then that’s another six months. So I have at least, I would say, a year and a half ahead of me before I could really be back to 100%, even just training in the gym.
“I’m still, like I said, in survival mode, that I just want to get through this phase and be able to assess where I am in my life.
“And take account of what I’ve done of what could be and make decisions in a much better place than where I am now.
“I don’t want to make a decision now because I think that would be rash and probably too emotional and I don’t want to make a mistake, you know?”
Two-time world champion Vonn nearly lost her leg in the accident and had to be airlifted from the course in February.
