Lindsey Vonn is recovering after undergoing a third surgery following her frightening crash at the Winter Olympics

In a post on Instagram, Vonn shared a picture of herself in her hospital bed with metal pins sticking out of her leg and wrote: "I had my 3rd surgery today and it was successful.

"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."

She went on to thank all of her family and friends as well as the medical staff for taking such good care of her.

The skier added: "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."

Vonn ended her message by sending her congratulations to her Team USA colleagues who have found success on the slopes.

She wrote: "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 - who had decided to compete at the Winter Olympics despite suffering a torn Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) - crashed 13 seconds into her run after her right ski pole got caught in a course marker.

The athlete lost her balance and tumbled through the air several times before crash landing on the snow, where she was subsequently put on a stretcher by medics and airlifted off the mountain.

Vonn's sister Karin Kildow explained that the the sports star's family were "hoping for the best" after the crash.

She told NBC: "That definitely was the last thing we wanted to see. It happened quick. So when that happens you're just immediately hoping she's okay.

"It was scary because when you start to see the stretchers being put out, that is not a good sign."

Kildow added: "I know she put her whole heart into it and sometimes, just, like, things happen. It's a very dangerous sport.

"And there are a lot of variables at play. I don't really know exactly what happened. It did look like a pretty rough fall. We're just hoping for the best."

Vonn had described how she felt she had "already won" by making it to a fifth and final Winter Olympic Games after overcoming a multitude of injury problems during her skiing career.

She wrote on Instagram on Saturday (07.02.26): "Just getting to these Olympics has been a journey, and one that some did not believe in from the start. I retired for 6 years, and because of a partial knee replacement, I had the chance to compete one more time.

"But why? Everyone seems to be asking me that question. But I think the answer is simple... I just love ski racing.

"I will race tomorrow in my final Olympic Downhill and while I can't guarantee a good result, I can guarantee I will give it everything I have. But no matter what happens, I have already won."