NEW DELHI: The words echo with the fierce determination that has defined one of alpine skiing’s greatest champions.For Lindsey Vonn, winning has never just been about medals, it has been about resilience, comeback, and an unrelenting hunger to push boundaries.Just days after a devastating crash at the Milan Cortina Games, Vonn delivered another powerful reminder of her mindset, updating fans from her hospital bed after undergoing a “successful” third surgery on her broken left leg.
“I had my 3rd surgery today and it was successful. Success today has a completely different meaning than it did a few days ago,” Vonn wrote on Instagram, sharing photos of herself giving a thumbs-up with a metal frame stabilising her leg. “I’m making progress and while it is slow, I know I’ll be ok.”Quote of the day: “I’m never tired of winning, and I’m never tired of skiing.”Earlier this month, during the Winter Olympics, the 41-year-old skiing legend crashed just 13 seconds into her downhill run and was airlifted off the course, later revealing a complex tibia fracture that would require multiple surgeries. The setback came just nine days after she ruptured the ACL in the same knee yet another chapter in a career marked by extraordinary highs and punishing injuries.Vonn’s comeback story had already captivated fans worldwide. After nearly six years of retirement, she returned to competitive skiing in December 2024 following knee surgery earlier that year.Heading into the Olympics, she was in sensational form, winning two downhills, finishing on the podium in seven of eight World Cup races, and proving she could still dominate the speed events.Doctors noted that her injury required external fixation, a technique used to stabilise severe fractures, but Vonn’s spirit remained unbroken. Surrounded by family and flooded with messages of support, she thanked medical staff, friends, and fans, while also cheering on her Team USA teammates from her hospital room.Billie Jean King hailed her as “Forever the champion,” while Allyson Felix sent messages of love and encouragement. Teammates called her “the baddest there is,” reflecting the respect she commands across the sporting world.“I’m never tired of winning” may sound like a simple statement, but in Vonn’s journey, it represents far more than trophies. It symbolises an athlete who refuses to surrender—to injury, to age, or to doubt.
