Vonn left for Italy with great expectations, but her return to the world elite was accompanied by complications. At the Milan Games, she failed to build on her earlier Olympic successes and suffered an injury after a fall that required further medical intervention. Instead of the desired result, the first big blow came in the form of a complicated fracture.
According to the skier, the health condition of her dog Leo also worsened on the day of her fall. “The day I crashed, Leo collapsed too,” she confided to fans on social media. “The vets recently diagnosed him with lung cancer, even though he had beaten lymphoma a year and a half ago. But this time his heart was failing. He was in pain and his body couldn’t keep up,” she said.
The farewell came at an extremely difficult time. “When I was in the hospital the day after my fall, I had to say goodbye to Lee,” she described. Within a short time, another heavy blow hit her. At the same time, the dog Leo witnessed her most difficult and most beautiful sporting moments.
“This dog boy has been with me since my second ACL injury when I needed him the most,” she wrote. She also recalled the time they watched the Olympics in Sochi together while she was recovering from surgery. “He was on my couch, picking me up when I was at my worst. Laying next to me, cuddling me. He always made me feel safe and loved.” Together they experienced thirteen years full of changes, victories and comebacks.
In recent years, Vonn has spoken openly about the fact that pets represent family and important psychological support for her. In recent years, she also lost other loved ones: not only her dogs Lucy and Bear, but also family members. “I know he’s up there now with Lucy and Bear and my mom and grandparents and so many people I’ve lost over the years,” she confided.
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Although the pain remains fresh, the ski legend is trying to find at least a little solace. “I take solace in the fact that he is no longer in pain,” she wrote. At the same time, she admitted that it will take a long time before she can process all the emotions. “There will never be another Leo. He will always be my first great love,” Vonn admitted.
