For a skier whose knees have absorbed the force of countless high-speed turns and more than a few crashes, the idea of returning to World Cup competition with a robotic partial knee replacement sounds almost contradictory. Yet Lindsey Vonn pulled it off in December 2024, roughly eight months after surgery.

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Olympic gold medals: 1 (downhill, 2010) ·
World Cup wins: 82 ·
World Cup podiums: 138 ·
Current age: 40 (born October 18, 1984) ·
Known relationship: Tiger Woods (2013-2015) ·
Recent surgery: MAKO-assisted robotic partial knee replacement (2024)

Quick snapshot

1Health Condition
  • Recovering from MAKO knee replacement (2024) (CNN)
  • No prosthetic limb (CNN)
  • Active, returned to World Cup skiing on artificial snow (HSS News)
2Relationships
  • Ex-husband Thomas Vonn (divorced 2013) (Wikipedia)
  • Dated Tiger Woods (2013-2015) (Wikipedia)
  • No current public relationship (Wikipedia)
3Family
  • No children
  • Dog mom to multiple dogs
  • Focus on foundation and business
4Career Achievements
  • 82 World Cup wins (FIS Ski)
  • Olympic gold (2010 downhill) (FIS Ski)
  • Four overall World Cup titles (FIS Ski)

Eight key facts about Vonn’s biography and current status give the full picture.

Label Value
Full name Lindsey Caroline Vonn (née Kildow)
Date of birth October 18, 1984
Age 40 (as of 2026)
Net worth Reported $14 million
Marital status Divorced (Thomas Vonn, 2013)
Children None
Major surgery (2024) MAKO-assisted robotic partial knee replacement

The pattern: Vonn’s biographical details reveal a life built around elite athletic achievement rather than traditional family milestones.

What is Lindsey Vonn’s condition now?

The short answer: she is active, pain-free in her right knee, and back on skis at World Cup level. The longer answer involves a surgical technique that has changed the possibilities for athletes with joint damage.

Current health status after knee surgery

  • Lindsey Vonn underwent a robot-assisted partial knee replacement on her right knee in April 2024, performed by Dr. Martin Roche at Hospital for Special Surgery Florida (CNN).
  • The procedure removed damaged bone and cartilage and replaced it with titanium components (CNN).
  • Dr. Roche used a MAKO robot to perform a lateral unicompartmental replacement, addressing what Vonn described as severe tri-compartment degeneration (Sportskeeda).
  • Hospital for Special Surgery Florida noted the operation preserved key structures and avoided trauma to muscle, ligaments, or tendons, which speeds recovery (HSS News).
The upshot

Vonn has a titanium knee implant that allows her to ski at elite speeds — but the key is that the surgery was partial, not total. Preserving healthy tissue makes a return to sport possible in a way a full replacement would not.

Return to physical activity and skiing

Bottom line: The implication: Vonn’s return to downhill racing after a partial knee replacement is unprecedented at this level. The technology that made it possible is a MAKO-assisted unicompartmental knee replacement, which is far less invasive than a total knee replacement. For athletes with severe joint damage, this opens a door that previously stayed shut.

Who is Lindsey Vonn in a relationship with?

As of 2026, Vonn is not publicly linked to a partner. Her two most notable relationships — a marriage to former skier Thomas Vonn and a high-profile romance with Tiger Woods — are firmly in the past.

Past relationship with Tiger Woods

  • Lindsey Vonn and Tiger Woods dated from March 2013 until May 2015, making their relationship public through social media and joint appearances (Wikipedia).
  • The couple split amicably, with both citing their demanding schedules as a factor.

Current relationship status

  • Vonn has not confirmed a romantic partner in 2026.
  • She focuses her public messaging on her foundation, her dogs, and her return to skiing.

What this means: Vonn’s personal life often makes headlines, but her current focus appears squarely on her athletic goals and business ventures. She has not indicated interest in remarrying or starting a family.

Does Lindsey Vonn have a prosthetic?

This question comes from confusion between two different medical terms. Vonn has a knee replacement — not a prosthetic leg or limb.

Knee replacement vs prosthetic limb

  • Vonn underwent a partial knee replacement, which involves implanting titanium components inside the knee joint. This is not an external prosthetic and does not involve amputation (CNN).
  • Scientific American describes the procedure as using a MAKO surgical robot to scan the knee, remove damaged cartilage and bone, and install the implant (Scientific American).

Injury history requiring surgeries

  • Vonn has had multiple knee surgeries over her career, including ACL repairs and meniscus procedures.
  • She has never had an amputation. Her right knee now contains titanium components, but her full leg structure remains intact.
The catch

The phrase “titanium knee” creates the impression of a bionic or prosthetic limb. In reality, a partial knee replacement preserves the natural knee joint’s structure and function — it’s a repair, not a replacement of the entire leg.

The implication: For anyone searching “Lindsey Vonn prosthetic,” the answer is no — she has an internal implant, not an external prosthetic device.

Does Lindsey Vonn have a child?

No. Lindsey Vonn does not have any biological children, nor has she adopted.

Motherhood status

  • Vonn has publicly stated she does not have children and has not indicated plans to become a parent.
  • She refers to herself as a “dog mom” in her Instagram bio and has multiple dogs.

Public statements on children

  • In interviews, Vonn has said her athletic career and recovery time have been her primary focus.
  • She has not commented on fertility or family planning in recent years.

What this means: The question “Did Lindsey Vonn have a baby?” returns a clear no. She has prioritized her career, foundation, and personal pursuits over parenthood.

Why did Lindsey Vonn leave her husband?

Divorce from Thomas Vonn

  • Lindsey Vonn married Thomas Vonn, a former U.S. Ski Team member, in 2007 (Wikipedia).
  • The couple separated in 2011, and their divorce was finalized in March 2013.

Reasons cited in media