After returning to the U.S. on Monday, Lindsey Vonn shared the heartbreaking news that her dog, Leo, passed away on February 9 — just one day after her shocking crash in the women’s downhill at the Olympics.
“2013–2/9/2026: Leo has passed away and joined Lucy and Bear in heaven. These past few days have been incredibly hard — probably the hardest of my life. I still can’t believe he’s gone,” Vonn wrote on Instagram Wednesday morning.
She continued, “The day I crashed, so did Leo. He had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer, after surviving lymphoma a year and a half ago, but his heart was failing. He was in pain, and his body could no longer keep up with his strong spirit.
“As I lay in my hospital bed the day after my crash, we said goodbye to my big boy. I had lost so much that mattered to me in such a short time. Leo had been with me since my second ACL injury, always there when I needed him most. He sat with me on the sofa as I watched the Sochi Olympics, lifted my spirits when I was down, and always lay beside me, cuddling me and making me feel safe and loved. We shared 13 incredible years together, through so much.”
The 41-year-old suffered a terrifying crash during the women’s downhill race in Milan on February 8. She hit a gate too early, catching her right arm and pole, which threw her off balance and sent her sliding down the course just 13 seconds into the race.
Vonn was airlifted to a hospital in Treviso, where doctors confirmed a major fracture in her left tibia. She underwent four surgeries before returning home — but this time, she couldn’t be there to say goodbye to her beloved dog, Leo.
In her emotional Instagram post, Vonn revealed she is scheduled for a fifth surgery on her leg Wednesday.
“It’s going to be a while before I emotionally process everything, but I know he will always be with me. I know he’s up there with Lucy and Bear, my mom and grandparents, and so many people I’ve lost in recent years. And I take solace knowing he’s no longer in pain,” she wrote.
“There will never be another Leo. He will always be my first love. Heading in for more surgery today, and I will be thinking of him when I close my eyes. I will love you forever, my big boy.”
U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn rested in a hospital bed in Treviso, Italy, after a crash during the women’s downhill event.
In a recent Instagram post, she expressed hope about regaining mobility after her upcoming surgery.
“Thankful to all the medical staff who helped me get home. I’m seriously looking forward to my next surgery, when I can get the X-fix removed from my leg and start moving more,” she wrote. “My injury was far more severe than just a broken leg. I’m still processing what it means and the road ahead, but I’ll share more details in the coming days.”
