Full Breakdown
Lindsey Vonn’s Met Gala Return, New York Outing, and Olympic Comeback
5/9/2026, 10:53:49 PM
Public Appearance
On Thursday, May 7, 2024, former Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn, 41, and French alpine racer Matthieu Bailet, 30, were photographed walking together in New York’s SoHo and waiting for a subway. Vonn, using crutches after her February 2026 crash at the Winter Olympics in Italy, wore white pants, black jacket; Bailet wore a light-blue shirt, navy suit. Neither athlete has commented, and the sighting has generated dating speculation.
Crash Background
Vonn’s crash occurred during the Olympic downhill on February 8, 2026, at the Milano Cortina Games. She suffered compound and tibial plateau fractures and compartment syndrome, prompting surgeries, including a leg-saving procedure. Earlier she had torn her ACL in a World Cup race at Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Her rehab now includes hyperbaric sessions and a structured workout program.
Timeline
Injury and Rehab
Vonn’s injuries include a left-leg compound fracture, tibial plateau fracture, compartment syndrome, and a recent ACL reconstruction. Her rehabilitation regimen features hyperbaric oxygen therapy, targeted strength work, and daily monitoring of swelling, knee stability, and muscle activation.
Impact
Vonn’s possible return influences alpine skiing’s competitive landscape and her personal brand. Media focus on her Met Gala appearance and New York outing heightens public interest in her recovery, while a successful comeback would illustrate resilience after multiple severe injuries.
Official Statements
Vonn told *Vogue* the Met Gala felt like a “coming-out party” where she could set aside her crutches and described her post-crash reality as “being in such a different world.” In a social-media update she said she had not stood on her feet for a week but felt her knee was stable, swelling-free, and muscles functional, and she intended to compete.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’ve been in such a different world, especially since my crash,” — Lindsey Vonn, interview with *Vogue*
- “This is kind of my coming-out party — I get to be around people, wearing a dress that’s beautiful and feminine, and put my crutches down for the first time.” — Lindsey Vonn, *Vogue* interview
- “Haven’t stood on my feet in over a week,” — Lindsey Vonn, social-media post
- “I have determined I am capable of competing in the Olympic Downhill on Sunday. Of course I will still need to do one training run, as is required to race on Sunday, but… I am confident in my body’s ability to perform,” — Lindsey Vonn, social-media post
What’s Next
Vonn will complete a mandatory training run before the Olympic downhill scheduled for the upcoming Sunday. Her medical team will keep monitoring her condition, and any further public appearances will depend on her recovery progress.
