Milan —Lindsey Vonn responded to the journalist’s post on social media on Monday, the first message directly from the U.S. Ski Team star since her broke his leg in a devastating crash the previous day at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

“Thank you Dan,” Vonn said, responding to a lengthy statement released by British sports commentator Dan Walker, who wished Vonn well and praised her resilience.

The Italian hospital where she is being treated released a statement on Sunday saying Vonn suffered a broken leg in a “nasty fall” during her downhill race in Cortina.

“She was treated by staff from the Regional Olympic Medical Service and immediately airlifted to the Codivilla Polyclinic, which is managed by the local health authorities,” the hospital said on Sunday.

“Diagnostic tests were performed and the decision was made to transfer her to the Ca’ Foncello hospital in Treviso. The American athlete was admitted to the hospital and is being cared for by a multidisciplinary team. She underwent orthopedic surgery this afternoon to stabilize her left leg fracture,” the hospital added.

Vonn, 41, collapsed during her downhill race on Sunday after deciding to compete at the Winter Games despite tearing her left ACL in a World Cup crash in the Swiss Alps a week earlier.

The American, who came out of retirement to compete at the 2026 Winter Games, said she was confident she could still finish the race despite the injury, with the help of a knee brace.

But seconds into the race, Vonn lost control after clipping a flag marking the side of the track, flying sideways into the air and hitting her head on the ground. She reacted, but did not get up. The medical staff put her on a stretcher and took her off the track by helicopter.

“She’s going to be fine, but it’s going to be a bit of a process,” USA Ski and Snowboard head Anouk Patty said Sunday. “This sport is brutal and people have to remember as they watch these athletes throw themselves down the mountain and go really, really fast.”