American skier Lindsey Vonn shares emotional International Women’s Day tribute to late mother Lindy while recovering from painful Olympic leg injury

Lindsey Vonn shared an emotional message on International Women’s Day while she continues her recovery from a serious leg injury. The Olympic ski star used the day to remember her late mother, Lindy, saying her strength still guides her during one of the toughest moments of her life. Vonn said her mother’s courage is what keeps pushing her forward as she heals from a badly broken leg suffered during the Winter Olympics in Italy last month. Her mother passed away in 2021 after battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as ALS.

The skiing legend has often spoken about how much her mother shaped her mindset. Even during difficult injuries throughout her career, Vonn says she remembers how her mother faced serious health struggles with quiet strength. Now, while dealing with multiple surgeries and a long recovery, the athlete says those memories are helping her stay mentally strong.

For Lindsey Vonn, the tribute was not just about loss. It was also about gratitude. She described her mother as the reason she learned how to fight through pain, setbacks, and uncertainty.

Lindsey Vonn remembers mother Lindy and explains how her strength inspires recovery from Olympic injury

Lindsey Vonn’s mother, Lindy, faced many challenges throughout her life. She suffered a stroke while giving birth to Lindsey Vonn, which left her walking with a slight limp in her left leg for the rest of her life. Years later, she was diagnosed with ALS, a disease that slowly damages the nervous system.

Despite these struggles, Lindy continued to support her daughter’s career and remained a major source of strength for the Olympic champion.

When Lindsey Vonn was inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame in June 2022, she spoke about the deep impact her mother had on her life.

“She’s taught me so much about strength and character, and it’s because of the example that my mother set that I was able to overcome whatever obstacle was thrown at me,” Vonn said at the ceremony.

That mindset became important again during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Just before the Games began, Vonn tore her ACL but decided to continue competing.

During a race on the Olympia delle Tofane course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, she clipped a gate high on the course and crashed heavily. The fall caused a severe leg break that ended her Olympic run.

The injury required several operations. Vonn underwent four surgeries in Italy before returning to the United States for another major procedure. According to NPR, the latest surgery lasted six hours and focused on rebuilding parts of her leg and covering damaged skin to prevent infection.

Vonn finally left the hospital in late February. But she admitted that the hardest part of recovery may not be physical.

“Today was a hard day… my physical battle began the second I got hurt but the mental battle started today,” she wrote on X.

“It hit me like a ton of bricks. It’s a battle I’m used to because I’ve done it so many times. I have always learned from every injury.”

Even during this difficult period, Lindsey Vonn says she often thinks about her mother’s courage. Remembering how Lindy lived with illness and still stayed strong continues to motivate the skiing legend as she works toward recovery.