Lindsey Vonn ditches crutches at Met Gala for first time since crash

Lindsey Vonn's lack of an accessory caused a stir at the Met Gala.

The gold-medalist alpine skier walked the 2026 Met Gala red carpet without her crutches, marking the first time she's walked on her own since her horrific crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics almost three months ago. Vonn donned an ethereal gown created by Thom Browne, who invited her to the event before her injury.

She was due to start walking without crutches this week, and she made doing it at the Met Gala one of her goals.

"It's been the light at the end of the tunnel," Vonn said during a May 1 interview with CNN. "From the start to the top of the stairs, if I can make it with no crutches, that's a huge win."

Ahead of the annual event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Vonn turned her hotel hallway into an impromptu runway and practiced her Met Gala walk without her crutches. In a video shared on Instagram, Vonn walked with the assistance of a custom Thom Browne cane while wearing a bathrobe and a black sleeve on her left leg. Vonn hit a quick can-can dance before setting the cane aside and walking unassisted.

"Practicing my Met walk!!!" Vonn captioned the video, adding the hashtag, "#myfirststeps."

Vonn suffered a compound fracture and tibial plateau fracture in her left leg, as well as a broken right ankle, in the Feb. 8 crash during the downhill event at the Milano Cortina Olympics. She's had multiple surgeries, including a fasciotomy to save her left leg after she developed compartment syndrome.

Since being released from the hospital, Vonn has been rehabbing at her Park City, Utah, home. But she's begun traveling again, including going to New York for media appearances and the Met Gala.

"Thom Browne asked me a long time ago," Vonn said, referring to the fashion designer. "I love Thom. We did a campaign together during COVID. And it's been like the thing that I'm like, can I get there?"

She did, and she plans to do it without crutches.