Lindsey Vonn’s sister, Karin Kildow, displayed admiration for the injured Team USA star while she’s undergone four post-Olympics surgeries and now faces a long rehab road.
“One day at a time, she’s super strong,” Kildow told TMZ at Los Angeles international airport on Saturday. “Lot of surgeries and things. We’re going to get her back to the U.S.”
She added: “She’s very strong, she’s getting through it, one day at a time.”
Kildow acknowledged “it’s been a rough one” while attending to her sister, whose dream of one final Olympics glory instead became an injury-filled nightmare.
Everything started to go awry when Vonn tore her ACL roughly one week before the Olympics, putting the 41-year-old’s status in doubt for what she said would be her final games.
Despite the odds being against her, Vonn opted to compete.
Vonn crashed 13.7 seconds into her downhill 2026 Winter Olympics race in Italy on Feb. 8 and suffered a major tibia fracture, having to be air lifted off the course.
She has since undergone four surgeries overseas to repair the injuries, and tweeted Monday night that she had finally returned to the United States.
“Haven’t stood on my feet in over a week… been in a hospital bed immobile since my race. And although I’m not yet able to stand, being back on home soil feels amazing ❤️🇺🇸 #imhome #BeLv,” she posted.
“Huge thank you to everyone in Italy for taking good care of me🙏🏻.”
Vonn also posted a video Monday night made by Kildrow that showed family and friends attending to the Olympian while she spent time in the hospital.
Kildrow previously posted a photo collage to Instagram showing lighthearted scenes from the hospital.
Two women, one in a baseball cap and another in a hospital gown, smile at the camera.
“Can’t quite explain the emotional range of this week. But it really gave me an important perspective, I realized that whether it ends up the best scenario or the worst scenario the common thread is that after it’s all done we end up in a similar place, surrounded by friends and family and life continues on. We laugh and cry and celebrate no matter what life throws at us,” Kildrow wrote.
“I really believe everything happens for a reason and there will be a silver lining even when it’s hard to see at first. Thank you to everyone who sent beautiful messages of support publicly and privately. Beyond proud of you @lindseyvonn… we are all here for you no matter what
