David Beckham sends emotional six-word message to Lindsey Vonn amid surgeries

Alpine icon Lindsey Vonn’s improbable Olympic comeback has ended in heartbreak only 13 seconds into her first downhill run at the 2026 Milan Games, a crash that left the 41-year-old American with severe leg injuries and requiring airlift evacuation to a nearby Italian hospital. In the days since, Vonn has undergone three operations on the newly damaged leg—complications independent of the ACL tear she sustained in late January—and is preparing for at least one additional procedure before she can contemplate a return home.

From her hospital bed on Friday, Vonn posted a candid Instagram update that quickly drew more than half a million likes and thousands of supportive comments. “A little update from me,” she wrote beneath a photo showing a fading bruise beneath her eye. “Thank you all so much for the love and support. One step at a time.”

Among the well-wishers, Inter Miami co-owner and former England captain David Beckham offered a succinct but poignant reply: “Stay strong, everyone is with you.” Tennis champion Naomi Osaka, actress Kate Hudson, and the official Olympic account added strings of heart emojis, underscoring the global reach of Vonn’s plight.

In an accompanying video, Vonn described the emotional toll of her extended hospital stay. “It’s been quite a hard few days,” she admitted. “I’m finally feeling more like myself, but I have a long, long way to go.” A fourth surgery is scheduled within 24 hours of the post; afterward, doctors will determine whether she can travel to the United States for yet another operation and a comprehensive rehabilitation plan.

Vonn’s father praised her resilience in an interview with the Associated Press, noting that his daughter has long understood how to confront physical adversity. “She’s a very strong individual,” he said. “She knows physical pain, and she understands the circumstances that she finds herself in. Better than I expected.” He confirmed what the crash had effectively sealed: “She’s 41 years old, and this is the end of her career.”

The 2010 Vancouver downhill gold medalist had already defied expectations by returning to competitive skiing in November 2024 after a five-and-a-half-year hiatus. Her victory in the 2025 World Championships super-G—making her the oldest champion in that discipline—punched her ticket to Milan and fueled dreams of a triumphant farewell. Instead, a scant 13 seconds of race time closed the curtain on one of the most decorated careers in Alpine history.

As Vonn confronts the finality of her competitive days and the uncertainty of multiple surgeries, the sporting world—Beckham, Osaka, Hudson, and countless fans—has rallied around her hospital bed, offering a collective reminder that her legacy extends far beyond the slopes.