Lindsey Vonn has suffered a loss more heartbreaking than the crash she endured at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.
The 41-year-old skier shared that her beloved dog Leo died at the age of 13 on Feb. 9, one day after she shattered her left leg in the downhill event.
“This has been an incredibly hard few days. Probably the hardest of my life. I still have not come to terms that he is gone…” Vonn wrote in a lengthy Instagram post that included a carousel of photos of Leo. “The day I crashed, so did Leo. He had been recently diagnosed with lung cancer (he survived lymphoma a year and a half ago) but now his heart was failing him. He was in pain and his body could no longer keep up with his strong mind.”
Vonn revealed that while she was hospitalized in Italy after undergoing an orthopedic operation on her broken left leg, she “said goodbye to my big boy.”
“I had lost so much that meant something to me in such a short amount of time. I can’t believe it,” Vonn wrote. “My boy has been with me since my second ACL injury, when I needed him most. He held me on the sofa as I watched the Sochi Olympics. He lifted me up when I was down. He layed by me, and cuddle me, always making me feel safe and loved. We have been through so much together in 13 years.
Vonn, who recently returned to the U.S. and is set undergo additional surgeries on Wednesday, said it will be a while before she can “emotionally process things.”
“I know he’s up there with Lucy and Bear and my mom and grandparents and so many people I have lost in the past few years. And I takes solace knowing he’s not in pain anymore,” she continued. “There will never be another Leo. He will always be my first love.”
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Vonn closed out her post by saying she’ll think of Leo as she closes her eyes “for more surgeries today.”
Vonn crashed 13 seconds into her run during the Feb. 8 race and was airlifted off the course by helicopter. She later announced she had suffered a “complex tibia fracture that is currently stable but will require multiple surgeries to fix properly.”
Nine days before that crash, Vonn ruptured the ACL in her left knee in another crash. Even before then, all eyes had been on her as the feel-good story heading into the Olympics for her comeback after nearly six years of retirement, a remarkable decision given her age but she also had a partial titanium knee replacement in her right knee, too.
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Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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