Lindsey Vonn has provided an update on her recovery after suffering a leg injury at the Winter Olympics, saying she’s ‘coming back to life’ after spending a time in hospital. The 41-year-old was airlifted to hospital after a crash during the downhill competition on the second day of the Games, which are being hosted in Italy.

Reports emerged last week that Vonn has been discharged from hospital in Italy and is set to return to the United States to continue her recovery. Days after the news emerged, Vonn has taken to social media to issue an emotional message thanking her family and friends, as well as the staff at the hospital, for their help and support following her injury.

The post included a video which featured clips taken during Vonn’s time at hospital in the various steps in the early stages of her recovery. “Thankful for friends, family, my team and all the medical staff that are getting me back to myself,” Vonn wrote in a post on Instagram. “I’m slowly coming back to life, back to basics and the simple things in life that mean the most. Smile. Laugh. Love.”

“My sister [Karin Kildow] made this video and it instantly made me cry and made my heart full. Love you guys.”

Vonn faces up to 11 months in recovery before potentially being able to return to competitive skiing once again, but her father, Alan Kildow, suggested that his daughter will no longer compete. “She’s 41 years old and this is the end of her career,” Kildow told The Associated Press on February 9.

“There will be no more ski races for Lindsey Vonn, as long as I have anything to say about it.”

He added: “She’s a very strong individual. She knows physical pain and she understands the circumstances that she finds herself in. And she’s able to handle it. Better than I expected. She’s a very, very strong person. And so I think she’s handling it real well.

“She’s well cared for,” he continued. “And the USOC and the US Ski team have a very, very top-notch doctor with her and she is being very well cared for here in Italy.”

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