Lindsey Vonn dazzles at the Met Gala after Olympic crash

Lindsey Vonn reached a remarkable recovery milestone as she attended the 2026 Met Gala, marking the first time she walked without crutches since her serious injury during the Olympics. The 41-year-old skiing icon, who was invited to the prestigious event at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York City on Monday evening, took her first steps without mobility aids after suffering a horrific fall at the Milan-Cortina Games.

Vonn, a former Olympic gold medalist, graced the red carpet, which is considered the Super Bowl of celebrity events, wearing a glamorous beaded white mermaid gown designed by Thom Browne. The outfit featured an inky black pattern and a large tulle trim, showcasing her unique interpretation of this year's Met Gala theme, "Fashion Is Art."

The most striking aspect of Vonn’s appearance at the gala was her ability to walk unaided, as she had been dependent on crutches for the past three months following her incident, which necessitated eight surgical procedures due to a complex fracture sustained during a downhill skiing event. At one point, she faced the possibility of losing her leg. Vonn had shared earlier that the recovery process has been mentally taxing, moving from a hospital bed to a wheelchair and eventually to crutches.

Prior to the Met Gala, just days earlier, Vonn was still using crutches at a pre-Met party hosted by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, making her achievement at the gala a significant milestone in her recovery. She previously highlighted the gala as a 'light at the end of the tunnel' on her path to rehabilitation.

In a video shared from her preparations, Vonn could be seen taking tentative steps down a hotel corridor with a cane, displaying her remarkable recovery progress. Excitedly, she performed chorus line kicks and showcased her signature catwalk style without any support. She captioned the video, "First steps… I’m coming for you MET Gala!!"

Vonn expressed her uncertainty about attending the Met Gala just the week before, revealing her motivations and determination to walk unassisted. Even with the success of making it to the event, she still faces the need for at least one more surgery to repair a torn ACL in her knee.