A regenerative medicine expert has commented on the horrific injury that skier Lindsey Vonn suffered at the Winter Olympics.
The 41-year-old was appearing at her fifth Olympic Games and looked to add to her medal tally of three, despite admitting she was dealing with a ruptured ACL, a bone bruise and meniscal damage.
Unfortunately, in Vonn's first event - the women's downhill competition - she clipped the first gate just 13 seconds into her run down the iconic Olimpia delle Tofane course in Cortina, and suffered a huge crash.
Both the Team USA legend and her family have addressed the horrific injury since, as she continues to be treated in hospital.
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Updating fans on social media yesterday, Vonn said she had undergone a 'successful' third surgery, adding: "Success today has a completely different meaning than it did a few days ago. I'm making progress and while it is slow, I know I'll be ok."
Now though, a sports and family medicine professional with expertise in stem cells has explained the severity of the injury, which left Vonn screaming in pain on the piste.
Jesse Morse, M.D., has spoken out about injuries to athletes in the NFL and the NBA in the past, and he described Vonn's leg break as a 'bad' fracture.
Taking to X, he wrote: "When she said she would need multiple surgeries she wasn’t kidding. She just completed her 3rd.
"When I say this was a ‘bad’ fracture I wasn’t kidding."
He then revealed what the injury is commonly known as: "This is called an external fixator (‘x-fix’) and is being used to help stabilise the fractured tibia (and maybe more)."
He then shared snaps of a similar injury, noting that 'it's not hers', but that it gives fans a good idea of how serious the fall was.
Warning: Graphic Images
The three-time Olympic medallist was treated by medical staff for a long period of time, before being airlifted by a helicopter to hospital.
Following her latest surgery, she showed gratitude to those who had helped her: "Thankful for all of the incredible medical staff, friends, family, who have been by my side and the beautiful outpouring of love and support from people around the world.
"Also, huge congrats to my teammates and all of the Team USA athletes who are out there inspiring me and giving me something to cheer for."
Vonn had earlier admitted that her 'Olympic dream did not finish the way I dreamt it would', stating that she simply 'dared to dream' and put the work in to achieve her goal.
She admitted: "Because in Downhill ski racing the difference between a strategic line and a catastrophic injury can be as small as five inches.
"I was simply five inches too tight on my line when my right arm hooked inside of the gate, twisting me and resulted in my crash. My ACL and past injuries had nothing to do with my crash whatsoever."
Vonn revealed that she 'sustained a complex tibia fracture', which while stable, would need several surgeries to fix properly.
In true athlete style, she said that 'despite the intense physical pain' experienced, she did not have any regrets.
"Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget," Vonn said.
Topics: Winter Olympics, Olympics, Sport, Health
Joshua Nair