Lindsey Vonn disclosed on Tuesday that she has been coping with profound personal grief following her downhill crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
In an Instagram post, Vonn shared that her dog, Leo, passed away just a day after she suffered a shattered leg at the Milan-Cortina Games. “These past few days have been incredibly difficult,” she wrote, describing them as possibly the toughest period of her life. She admitted she is still struggling to accept his loss.
After being airlifted to a hospital in Italy, where she underwent multiple surgeries, Vonn said she was scheduled for another operation in the United States on Wednesday. Despite her own medical challenges, her thoughts remained with her longtime companion. “I’ll be thinking of him when I close my eyes,” she wrote. “I will love you forever, my big boy.”
The Olympic champion posted a heartfelt gallery of photos honoring Leo, who had battled lung cancer after previously surviving lymphoma and also dealing with heart complications. The 2010 gold medalist had attempted a return to Olympic competition at age 41, even after rupturing her ACL shortly before the Games, only to suffer a heavy crash in the downhill event.
Reflecting on the timing of Leo’s passing, Vonn said she said goodbye to him from her hospital bed the day after her fall. She described the overwhelming sense of loss, noting how much he had meant to her over the past 13 years. Leo had been by her side since her second ACL injury, offering comfort and companionship through some of the most challenging moments of her career. She recalled how he stayed with her as she watched the 2014 Winter Olympics from home, lifting her spirits when she was down and always making her feel secure and loved.
Vonn acknowledged that it will take time to process everything emotionally but said she finds comfort in believing Leo is no longer suffering. She also expressed hope that he is reunited with other loved ones she has lost in recent years.
“There will never be another Leo,” she wrote. “He will always be my first love.”
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