Lindsey Vonn Announces Devastating Personal News After Leaving Olympics

Just days before getting set to compete in the Winter Olympics, United States star skier Lindsey Vonn suffered a torn ACL in training.

She didn't let that keep her from competing, though, and was among the top qualifiers heading into her first event before disaster struck. Another fall on the Italian slopes left Vonn with a broken leg, on which she's had five surgeries over the past week.

Vonn Suffers Another Devastating Heartbreak

Ahead of her fifth surgery, Vonn returned to the United States to devastating news. Her beloved dog Leo, whom she had for 13 years, passed away, she announced in a post on Instagram.

"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…" she said. "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."

Vonn was forced to say goodbye to her ailing dog as she laid in a hospital bed followin her accident.

"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 by me, and cuddle me, always making me feel safe and loved. We have been through so much together in 13 years," she added.

Vonn admitted it will take her a while before being able to emotionally process her dog's death, but added that she hopes he's comfortable with her two other dogs that passed recently.

"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 takes solace knowing he’s not in pain anymore," she said.

Lindsey Vonn Has No Regrets About Racing on Torn ACL

Vonn previously made it clear that she did not regret racing on a torn ACL after she suffered an even more devastating injury days later.

"While yesterday did not end the way I had hoped, and despite the intense physical pain it caused, I have no regrets. Standing in the starting gate yesterday was an incredible feeling that I will never forget. Knowing I stood there having a chance to win was a victory in and of itself. I also knew that racing was a risk. It always was and always will be an incredibly dangerous sport," she said.

Vonn has not mentioned a possible comeback attempt.

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