Lindsey Vonn has shared the heartbreaking news that her beloved dog Leo has died, revealing the loss on social media just days after her devastating Winter Olympics accident.
The 41-year-old American skiing legend made the announcement upon her return to the United States from Italy, where she had been receiving treatment following her crash during the women's 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 alongside photographs of her cherished pet.
The double blow of her serious injury and Leo's death has left the Olympic champion reeling.
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Leo had been diagnosed with lung cancer approximately 18 months after overcoming a previous battle with lymphoma.
The dog's condition deteriorated significantly on the very same day Vonn suffered her horrific crash on the slopes in Cortina.
"He was in pain and his body could no longer keep up with his strong mind," the Olympian explained.
Lindsey Vonn has shared the heartbreaking news that her beloved dog Leo has died, revealing the loss on social media just days after her devastating Winter Olympics accident
|GETTY
Vonn revealed that she had to say farewell to Leo while lying in her hospital bed, just one day after her accident.
"As I [laid] in my hospital bed the day after my crash, we 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," she wrote.
Vonn first welcomed Leo into her life in 2014 after adopting him from an animal shelter, where he was recovering from a knee injury sustained when he was struck by a vehicle.
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The dog joined a household that included Lucy, who died last August, and another pet named Chance.
"My boy has been with me since my second ACL injury, when I needed him most," Vonn reflected.
"He held me on the sofa as I watched the Sochi Olympics. He lifted me up when I was down."
She described how Leo would lie beside her and cuddle her, providing comfort and security throughout their 13 years together.
"There will never be another Leo. He will always be my first love," she added.
Vonn sustained a complex tibia fracture during the incident in Cortina, which occurred as she attempted to compete despite already having a torn ACL.
Lindsey Vonn recently left hospital to return to the United States after her awful crash at the Winter Olympics
| REUTERSThe skier lost control on the opening traverse after taking the line too tightly, sending her spinning through the air before she crashed to the ground.
She underwent four operations in Italy before being discharged on Sunday, with medical staff facing considerable challenges transporting her to the airport and onto a flight given the severity of her injuries.
"My leg is still in pieces but I'm finally HOME!" Vonn posted on Instagram.
She now faces a fifth surgery in the US, which will remove the external fixator from her leg.