The Olympian was able to say goodbye to her pup from her hospital bed in Italy.

Lindsey Vonn shares her dog Leo died 1 day after her Olympics crash: ‘My first love’

The Olympian was able to say goodbye to her pup from her hospital bed in Italy.

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and *NME*.

EW's editorial guidelines

February 18, 2026 11:24 a.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Lindsey Vonn and her dog, Leo. Credit:

Lindsey Vonn/Instagram

Lindsey Vonn is mourning the loss of her dog, Leo. **

The decorated alpine ski racer, 41, revealed in a poignant Instagram post on Wednesday that her beloved pup died just one day after she crashed at the 2026 Winter Olympics. **

“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…” Vonn began. “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.”

Lindsey Vonn and her dog, Leo.

Lindsey Vonn/Instagram

The gold medal-winning Olympian explained that she was able to say goodbye to “my big boy” from her hospital bed.**

“I had lost so much that meant something to me in such a short amount of time. I can’t believe it,” she wrote. “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.” **

Vonn continued, “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.”

Mariska Hargitay shares sweet pic with Lindsey Vonn in hospital after Olympics crash

Skier Lindsey Vonn airlifted after crashing in final downhill before 2026 Olympics

Vonn acknowledged that it will take time for her to emotionally process losing Leo, “but I know that he will always be with me” no matter what. **

“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,’ she wrote. “And I takes solace knowing he’s not in pain anymore.”**

Lindsey Vonn and her dog, Leo.

Lindsey Vonn/Instagram

She added, “There will never be another Leo. He will always be my first love.”

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

Vonn noted that she would be undergoing additional surgery today to treat the injuries she sustained in her accident and would be thinking of Leo along the way. She concluded, “I will love you forever my big boy.”

Vonn was airlifted to the hospital after sustaining an injury during the women’s downhill event at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Feb. 8. After spending several days in the intensive care unit at an Italian hospital, Vonn announced that she’d been able to fly back home to the United States to receive further treatment. **

“My leg is still in pieces…but I’m finally HOME!” she wrote in a Feb. 17 Instagram post. “My injury was a lot more severe than just a broken leg. I’m still wrapping my head around it, what it means and the road ahead… but I’m going to give you more detail in the coming days.”

She added, "As always, I appreciate all the love and support."

- Celebrities & Creators

- Celebrity Friends and Family

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Celebrity”