Lindsey Vonn has revealed the full horror of her crash at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, describing how medical teams fought to prevent amputation of her leg following a devastating compound fracture.
The 41-year-old American skiing legend struck a gate just 13.4 seconds into her downhill run last month, triggering an immediate helicopter evacuation from the course.
Team USA physician Dr Tom Hackett was forced to perform an emergency fasciotomy procedure at the scene to address the complex injury.
"My leg was broken and I couldn't get my skis off. I couldn't move and I was screaming for help," Vonn told Vanity Fair.
Lindsey Vonn had to receive treatment in hospital after her crash at the Winter Olympics | GETTYThe skiing icon underwent five operations within a 10-day period, with one reconstructive surgery lasting nearly six hours and requiring extensive hardware including multiple plates and screws.
Vonn described the agony as "out of control," with powerful painkillers proving ineffective against the intensity.
"Halfway through [the CT scan] I started sweating. I was in such extreme pain. I was screaming at the top of my lungs, 'Get me out of here.' It just wouldn't go away. It's etched into my brain," she recalled.
Significant blood loss during the procedures necessitated a transfusion, which ultimately helped stabilise her condition.
Despite the severity of her injuries, Vonn has refused to rule out a return to competitive skiing.
Lindsey Vonn revealed she had a third surgery after breaking her tibia during the downhill skiing final
| INSTAGRAM/LINDSEYVONN"I don't like to close the door on anything, because you just never know what's going to happen," she told Vanity Fair.
"It's hard to tell with this injury. It's so f**ked up."
The five-time Olympian expressed frustration at how her run concluded.
"I really feel like that was a horrible last run to end my career on. I only made it 13 seconds. But they were a really good 13 seconds."
Looking ahead, Vonn acknowledged complete uncertainty about her path forward. "I have no idea what my life will be like in two years or three years or four years. I could have two kids by then. I could have no kids and want to race again."
Lindsey Vonn was airlifted to hospital after her crash, with the skier sustaining a broken leg | GETTYVonn's recovery has demanded an exhausting daily regime, with the athlete spending roughly two hours in physical therapy followed by another two hours in a hyperbaric chamber before any standard training begins.
Just 25 days after the accident, she had returned to the gym with her injured leg strapped.
The Olympic gold medallist from 2010, who also claimed two World Championship titles and 84 World Cup victories, addressed concerns about her sporting legacy.
"I don't want people to hang on this crash and be remembered for that," she said.
"What I did before the Olympics has never been done before. I was number one in the standings. No one remembers that I was winning."