Lindsey Vonn, the 41-year-old American alpine skier, announced she will race in the 2026 Winter Olympics despite completely rupturing her left ACL in a World Cup crash last week. The three-time Olympic medalist plans to start in the women's downhill on Sunday, relying on a knee brace and her extensive experience with injuries. Experts warn of heightened risks but acknowledge her elite conditioning may allow competition.
Lindsey Vonn crashed during a women's World Cup downhill race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on January 30, 2026, losing control after a jump and slamming into safety nets. She was airlifted to a hospital, where scans confirmed a full ACL tear in her left knee, along with bone bruising and possible meniscal damage. The race was canceled due to poor visibility and bumpy conditions, following earlier crashes by other competitors.
At a press conference in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, on February 3, Vonn detailed her injury but expressed determination to compete. "Considering how my knee feels, it feels stable. I feel strong," she said. "My knee is not swollen, and with the help of a knee brace, I am confident that I can compete on Sunday." After three days of therapy, gym work, and consultations with doctors, she tested skiing and reported no limping.
Vonn, who retired in 2019 after numerous injuries including a partial right knee replacement in 2024, returned last season and dominated downhill with two wins and three podiums in five races. She holds the World Cup record with 12 victories in Cortina, site of the Olympic women's events. Her Olympic history includes gold in downhill and bronze in super-G at Vancouver 2010, and bronze in downhill at PyeongChang 2018.
Medical experts like Dr. Sean Baran of Western Orthopedics highlighted risks: "The brace can't reproduce what the ligament itself does," noting potential instability during high-speed turns. Dr. Catherine Logan added that elite athletes like Vonn can push through via quad and hip strength, though further damage remains a concern. Vonn views this as her most dramatic comeback: "I won't let this slip through my fingers."
She aims to race super-G on February 12 and the team combined on February 10 if her knee holds, emphasizing shared risk assessment with her team.
