American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn, age 41, is displaying remarkable resilience and determination as she prepares to participate in the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics despite sustaining a serious knee injury.
Just four days after a crash during a World Cup downhill event in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Vonn revealed that she suffered a "completely ruptured" anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee, accompanied by bone bruising and meniscal damage. Following three days of physical therapy and consultations with medical professionals, she attempted to ski again. Observers noted she appeared without a limp when entering and exiting a press conference.
Vonn stated, "My knee is not swollen, and with the help of a knee brace, I am confident that I can compete on Sunday. As long as there’s a chance, I will try. I will do everything in my power to be at the starting gate." Her debut event at the Games is scheduled for Sunday in the women’s downhill, two days after the Olympics opening ceremony on Friday. She also plans to compete in the super-G and the team combined events.
The crash on Friday resulted in Vonn being caught by safety nets and subsequently transported to a hospital after skiing to the base of the course.
Vonn is anticipated to be one of the marquee athletes at the Winter Games held in Cortina, where she holds the World Cup record with 12 wins. Over her career, she has secured three Olympic medals: gold in downhill and bronze in super-G at the 2010 Games, and bronze in downhill in 2018.
Her plan is to participate in all the events, including the opening women's downhill training session scheduled for Thursday. "My intention is to race everything," she affirmed.
Throughout her career, Vonn has confronted numerous injuries and setbacks. Among the most severe was at the 2013 World Championships in Schladming, Austria, where she tore her right knee during a super-G event held in challenging conditions. She missed the 2014 Sochi Olympics after reinjury following her return. Additionally, before the 2019 World Championships, she sustained injuries but still secured a bronze medal in downhill, after which she retired for nearly six years.
Reflecting on her current situation, Vonn said, "I’ve been in this position before. I know how to handle it. I feel a lot better now than I did in 2019. 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." She recalled winning downhill gold at the 2010 Olympics while managing a bruised shin treated with topfen cheese, although she noted, "I don’t need topfen now. My knee isn’t swollen." She characterized her current comeback attempt as possibly the most dramatic of her career.
Other elite skiers have competed with similar or worse injuries. Her teammate Bella Wright emphasized Vonn's mental toughness as a key asset in managing the injury. Breezy Johnson, reigning world champion in downhill and combined, commented on the prevalence of athletes competing without ACLs or with significant knee damage.
Andrea Panzeri, chief physician for the Italian Winter Sports Federation, noted that many athletes have competed at the highest level with torn ACLs and other serious knee injuries. Italian freestyler Flora Tabanelli delayed surgery for an ACL tear in her right knee to compete in the Olympics, exemplifying the approach to balancing injury and competition. Panzeri highlighted Vonn's combination of experience and physical capability as factors supporting her decision to race, stating the athlete's clinical condition and medical advice are favorable.
Vonn's recent season comeback has been notable. Skiing with a partial titanium implant in her right knee, she has dominated the World Cup circuit with two victories and three additional podium finishes in five downhills. Expanding her competitive scope, including super-G, she has finished on the podium in seven of eight World Cup races, with her lowest placement being fourth.
Beyond her physical efforts, Vonn paid tribute to her late childhood coach Erich Sailer during a visit to his grave outside Innsbruck, Austria. Sailer, who passed away at age 99 in August, coached her at Buck Hill, Minnesota. This visit was an emotional moment for Vonn, who acknowledged his likely supportive words encouraging her to compete despite the challenges, recalling his mantra: "It’s only 90 seconds. What’s 90 seconds in a lifetime? It’s nothing. You can do it." She reflected that his counsel gave her additional hope as she approaches the Olympic races.