Lindsey Vonn Seen in Wheelchair During Recovery from Olympic Injury, Discusses Mental Health Challenges

American skier Lindsey Vonn was spotted in a wheelchair at Los Angeles airport over the weekend, assisted by personnel as she continues recovering from a February injury at the Winter Olympics. The injury occurred during the women’s downhill event in Italy on Feb.

8, resulting in a severe fracture to her left leg that required multiple surgeries. Doctors treated compartment syndrome, which caused intense pain and initially raised concerns about possible amputation.

Vonn has undergone a recovery process involving hospital stays and immobility. She described experiencing extreme pain during a CT scan, leading her to scream for it to stop.

“Halfway through, I started sweating. I was just in such extreme pain. I screamed at the top of my lungs: Get me out." — Lindsey Vonn, in an interview (New York Post source). Vonn reported dealing with depression following the injury, noting periods of dependency on others for daily tasks. She spent two and a half weeks alone in the hospital, describing the immobility as particularly difficult.”

Vonn stated that her mental health has improved in the last month, though she experienced low moments. She mentioned hitting recovery milestones and anticipates returning to normal life within six weeks, including summer travel plans. Vonn, a three-time Olympic medalist, indicated she plans to return to skiing in some capacity.

“I’d say in the last month, it’s definitely gotten better, but of course there were really low moments.”

A health organization reported that over 1 billion people globally live with a mental health condition. In 2025, the number of countries with access to emergency mental health and psychosocial support systems increased from 28% to 48% worldwide. Reports from Virginia indicate concerns over universal mental health screenings in public schools, with discussions on whether harms outweigh benefits.

More than 40 major U.S. cities have implemented programs sending mental health workers instead of police to certain calls. Questions persist about funding sustainability for these alternative response initiatives. In the Philippines, social media serves as a resource for young people's mental health, though it presents hazards requiring campaigns and policy reforms.