Lindsey Vonn is ready to return to the US following a fourth operation.

The 41-year-old ski racer was airlifted to hospital after a horror crash during the women's downhill final at the Milan-Cortina Games last Sunday (08.02.26) and she is relieved the latest surgery on her left leg, which suffered a complex tibia fracture, went well and she has been given the green light to leave Italy.

Alongside a video of herself skiing downhill, she wrote: ""Surgery went well today! Thankfully I will be able to finally go back to the US 🇺🇸! Once I'm back I will give you more updates and info about my injury…"

She added in the comments: "This was my last run before my Olympic race. A classic Cortina day [heart emoji] thankful I have this memory.(sic)"

Lindsey urged fans not to feel "sadness or sympathy" for her because she knew the risks of taking part in the Olympics, despite her previous injury wos.

She wrote: "I have been reading a lot of messages and comments saying that what has happened to me makes them sad. Please, don't be sad. Empathy, love and support I welcome with an open heart, but please not sadness or sympathy.

"I hope instead it gives you strength to keep fighting, because that is what I am doing and that is what I will continue to do. Always.

"When I think back on my crash, I didn't stand in the starting gate unaware of the potential consequences. I knew what I was doing. I chose to take a risk. Every skier in that starting gate took the same risk. Because even if you are the strongest person in the world, the mountain always holds the cards."

The athlete stressed she would rather push herself to follow her dreams than to "have regret" by not doing her best.

She added: "I was willing to risk and push and sacrifice for something I knew I was absolutely capable of doing. I will always take the risk of crashing while giving it my all, rather than not ski to my potential and have regret. I never want to cross finish line and say,"what if?" And to be perfectly honest, I was stronger physically in that moment than I have been often in the past.

"Certainly stronger than I was when I ended career in 2019 where I got a bronze medal in the World Championships. And mentally…. Mentally I was perfect. Clear, focused, hungry, aggressive yet completely calm… just as I had practiced over the past few months when I was on the podium in every downhill this season. 2 wins and leading the standings… that was all a test to prepare me for the Olympics. Mentally, I was more ready than I have ever been.

"But just because I was ready, that didn't guarantee me anything. Nothing in life is guaranteed. That's the gamble of chasing your dreams, you might fall but if you don't try you'll never know.(sic)"

Lindsey is determined to get back on her skis and return to her sport in the future.

She concluded: "So please, don't feel sad. The ride was worth the fall. When I close my eyes at night I don't have regrets and the love I have for skiing remains.

"I am still looking forward to the moment when I can stand on the top of the mountain once more. And I will."