Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn revealed that a devastating crash during the women's downhill at the Milan Cortina Olympics nearly cost her left leg. The 41-year-old American skier suffered a complex tibia fracture and compartment syndrome just 13 seconds into her run on February 8, requiring emergency surgery to save her limb.

Vonn credited Dr. Tom Hackett, Team USA's orthopedic surgeon, with performing a fasciotomy that prevented permanent damage. The surgery was particularly crucial because compartment syndrome involves dangerous pressure buildup that restricts blood flow to muscles. Vonn noted Hackett was only present because she had torn her ACL in the same leg shortly before the Olympics.

In addition to the tibia fracture and compartment syndrome, Vonn broke her right ankle in the crash. She has since been discharged from the hospital and is recovering. The incident highlights the extreme risks Olympic athletes face, with Vonn's injuries proving far more severe than initially reported when she first crashed during her Olympic competition.