After coming back to the U.S. on Monday, Lindsey Vonn announced that her dog, Leo, died on Feb. 9 — just a day following her shocking Olympics crash during the women’s downhill.
“2013-2/9/2026 Leo has passed away and joined Lucy and Bear up in heaven. This has been an incredibly hard few days. Probably the hardest of my life. I still have not come to terms that he is gone…” Vonn wrote on Instagram on Wednesday morning. “The day I crashed, so did Leo. He had been recently diagnosed with lung cancer (he survived lymphoma a year and a half ago) but now his heart was failing him. He was in pain and his body could no longer keep up with his strong mind.
“As I layed [sic] in my hospital bed the day after my crash, we said goodbye to my big boy. I had lost so much that meant something to me in such a short amount of time. I can’t believe it. My boy has been with me since my second ACL injury, when I needed him most. He held me on the sofa as I watched the Sochi Olympics. He lifted me up when I was down. He layed [sic] by me, and cuddle[d] me, always making me feel safe and loved. We have been through so much together in 13 years.”
The 41-year-old had a horrific crash during the women’s downhill race in Milan on Feb 8. She came on a gate too early, catching her right arm and pole on it, which threw her off balance and sliding down the course only 13 seconds into the race.
Vonn was later airlifted and taken to a hospital in Treviso, where she found out she suffered a major fracture in her tibia in her left leg and underwent four different surgeries before returning home. This time, she wasn’t able to greet her furry friend.
In her emotional post, Vonn revealed she’s set for a fifth surgery on her leg Wednesday.
“It’s going to be a while before I emotionally process things but I know he will always be with me. I know he’s up there with Lucy and Bear and my mom and grandparents and so many people I have lost in the past few years. And [I take solace] knowing he’s not in pain anymore,” she wrote.
“There will never be another Leo. He will always be my first love. Heading in for more surgery today. Will be thinking of him when I close my eyes. I will love you forever my big boy.”
In her previous Instagram post, she predicted she may be more mobile afterwards.
“Thankful to all of the medical staff who helped me get home and seriously looking forward to my next surgery when I can get the X-fix out of my leg and will be able to move more,” she wrote. “My injury was a lot more severe than just a broken leg. I’m still wrapping my head around it, what it means and the road ahead… but I’m going to give you more detail in the coming days.”
