Lindsey Vonn is one of the most well known athletes in the world and after going under surgery on her knee following a ski crash, the Olympian decided to share her pain with the rest of her fans, posting a post-surgical picture to her social media websites.
Vonn has made a number of headlines lately, including after winning wining a ski championship and reports about her dating Tiger Woods, but nothing can quite compare to the picture she shared on Monday. The photo shows Vonn's post surgery knee photo, with bandages, numerous bruises and heavy scars all up and down her knee.
Vonn is currently recovering from injuries she sustained a the Alpine Ski World Championships, during which she crashed and tore her ACL and MCL ligaments in her right knee and also suffered a broken bone. On Sunday Vonn underwent surgery and decided to show off her post op photo filled with yellow and purple bruises.
"My knee looks...um...not very good.... #longskirtsthissummer #ugh" she wrote in Instagram as well as on Facebook. The picture of her leg already has thousands of likes and many wished her a speedy recovery from her injuries.
The 28-year-old is expected to be ready for the 2014 Olympics in Russia and received a fancy private plane ride home from her reported boyfriend Tiger Woods after sustaining the injuries. Dr. Bill Sterett, a physician for the U.S. Ski Team, performed the procedure on Vonn and said he was optimistic about her recovery.
"The overall success rate for ACL/MCL surgery is very good. Modern surgical techniques combined with aggressive rehabilitation will help Lindsey make a full recovery," said Sterett, who's also a surgeon at Vail-Summit Orthopaedics. "She will do everything in her power to return as quickly as possible to competitive skiing."
Vonn originally lost her balance during the Super G race in Austria after losing balance on her right leg during the championships in Austria. Vonn was in mid-air when she tumbled on her right leg and fell downwards onto her knee, gasping in pain after she settled.
After being airlifted away from the slope, she received treatment at a hospital in Schladming before heading back to Vail on Woods' private jet. Woods and Vonn have been linked together for weeks and their relationship was all but confirmed by friends last week.
CLICK HERE for more photos of Vonn and Woods.
The two reportedly have spent time on vacation in Antigua and on the slopes in Austria, where Vonn helped teach Woods' kids lessons how to ski. When Vonn was injured, she had been on a hot streak, winning two races last month, including the giant slalom in Slovenia, her 59th win of her career,
The games in Sochi appear to be a possibility for the skier, although he likely will want to return for the World Cup speed races in Alberta, where she has won 14 times. Vonn has dealt with a number of injury comebacks during her career, including in November when she suffered an intestinal illness. She also had to recover from a thumb injury sustained on a champagne bottle as well as a bruised shin at the Vancouver Olympics.
Although Vonn suffered a serious knee injury, it is not something upcoming for alpine skiers and she likely will be able to make a full recovery for the Olympics and the winter competitions on 2013.