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Lindsey Vonn is determined to compete at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics despite suffering a completely ruptured ACL just four days ago during a crash in Switzerland. The 41-year-old American skiing icon, speaking at a news conference in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, expressed confidence in her ability to race on Sunday.
“My knee is not swollen, and with the help of a knee brace, I am confident that I can compete,” Vonn said. “As long as there’s a chance, I will try… I will do everything in my power to be in the starting gate.”
Vonn crashed during a World Cup downhill event in Crans-Montana last Friday, ending up in the safety nets before being taken to the hospital. Medical evaluation revealed not only the torn ACL in her left knee but also bone bruising and meniscal damage. Despite these injuries, she has already attempted skiing again after just three days of physical therapy.
The legendary skier is expected to be one of the headline attractions at the Winter Games, which begin Friday with the opening ceremony. Her ambitious plan includes competing in the women’s downhill on Sunday, followed by the super-G and the new team combined event. “My intention is to race everything,” she stated firmly.
This is familiar territory for Vonn, whose career has been defined as much by her comebacks as her victories. One of her most devastating injuries occurred at the 2013 world championships in Schladming, Austria, where she tore her right knee during a super-G competition. That injury and subsequent setbacks forced her to miss the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
In 2019, she competed at the world championships with no lateral collateral ligament and three tibial plateau fractures, still managing to secure a bronze medal in downhill before entering what became a nearly six-year retirement.
“I’ve been in this position before. I know how to handle it,” Vonn explained. “I feel a lot better now than I did in 2019… And I still got a medal there with no LCL and three tibial plateau fractures. So, like I said, this is not an unknown for me. I’ve done this before.”
Her resilience is legendary in the skiing world. At the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Vonn overcame a bruised shin—treated with topfen cheese, an Austrian home remedy to reduce swelling—to win gold in the downhill. “I don’t need topfen now. My knee isn’t swollen,” she noted, adding, “This would be the best comeback I’ve done so far. Definitely the most dramatic.”
Fellow American skier Bella Wright expressed confidence in Vonn’s mental fortitude: “If anyone can do it, it’s Lindsey.” Another teammate, Breezy Johnson, the current downhill and combined world champion, pointed out that skiing with serious knee injuries is more common than most realize. “There are more athletes that ski without ACLs and with knee damage than what we talk about,” Johnson said.
Medical experts acknowledge the possibility of Vonn’s ambitious comeback. Andrea Panzeri, chief physician for the Italian Winter Sports Federation, cited numerous cases of elite athletes competing with torn ACLs, including Italian Sofia Goggia, who won silver at the 2022 Olympics weeks after partially tearing her ACL and suffering multiple additional injuries.
Vonn’s credentials make her attempt more credible. Last season, she made a remarkable return after nearly six years away from competition. Skiing with a partial titanium implant in her right knee, she has dominated the downhill circuit this season with two victories and three other podium finishes in just five races. Including super-G events, she’s completed eight World Cup races this season, finishing on the podium in seven.
The women’s skiing events will take place in Cortina, a venue where Vonn holds the World Cup record with 12 career wins. Throughout her illustrious Olympic career, she has collected three medals: gold in downhill and bronze in super-G in 2010, plus bronze in downhill in 2018.
During her journey to Cortina, Vonn made a poignant stop at the grave of her childhood coach Erich Sailer, who died last August at age 99. Sailer coached Vonn at Buck Hill in Minnesota and is buried near Innsbruck, Austria.
“I miss him. And I know exactly what he would say to me right now,” Vonn reflected, recalling his advice before her final competitive run years ago: “It’s only 90 seconds. What’s 90 seconds in a lifetime? It’s nothing. You can do it.”
As Thursday’s opening training session approaches, the skiing world watches to see if Vonn can pull off what would be perhaps the most remarkable comeback in her storied career of triumphs over adversity.
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12 Comments
Vonn’s plan to race in multiple events at the Olympics with a ruptured ACL is incredibly ambitious, but also quite risky. I hope she can pull it off, but her health should be the top priority.
The Winter Olympics are always exciting, and Vonn’s participation would add even more drama and excitement. I’m rooting for her to make a full recovery and compete at her best.
Agreed. Vonn is a true legend of the sport, and her presence at the Games would be a major draw for fans and media. Hopefully her body holds up and she can put on a good show.
Vonn’s positive attitude is commendable, but I hope she doesn’t underestimate the severity of her injury. Competing at the Olympics with a torn ACL could have long-term consequences for her health and career.
Vonn’s dedication to her sport is truly remarkable. Even with a ruptured ACL, she’s determined to compete at the highest level. I’m excited to see what she can accomplish, but hope she doesn’t jeopardize her future.
Vonn’s confidence in her ability to race with a ruptured ACL is admirable, but I hope she doesn’t jeopardize her long-term health by rushing back too soon. Safety should be the top priority.
You raise a good point. Vonn needs to weigh the risks carefully and listen to her doctors. Her career has been marked by injuries, so she’ll have to be extra cautious this time.
While Vonn’s confidence is admirable, I can’t help but be concerned about the long-term implications of her rushing back from such a serious injury. Caution and patience may be the wisest approach.
Wow, Lindsey Vonn is really pushing her body to the limit to race at the Olympics despite such a serious knee injury. Her determination and drive are truly inspiring.
It’s great to see an athlete as accomplished as Vonn still pushing the limits and chasing her Olympic dreams. Her resilience and competitive spirit are truly inspiring.
Absolutely. Vonn has overcome so many injuries throughout her career, and her willingness to take on this challenge shows why she’s considered one of the all-time greats in her sport.
While Vonn’s determination is admirable, I worry that her Olympic dream may be clouding her judgment. A ruptured ACL is a serious injury that requires proper healing time to avoid further damage.