American skier Lindsey Vonn, 41, has announced her intention to compete in the women's downhill at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics despite a completely ruptured ACL in her left knee from a recent crash. The injury, sustained during a World Cup race, includes bone bruising and meniscal damage, but Vonn reports her knee feels stable with a brace. She aims to race on February 8 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, her most successful venue.
Lindsey Vonn's determination to race in her fifth Olympics highlights her remarkable resilience. The 41-year-old American, who retired in 2019 due to chronic knee issues and returned in late 2024, qualified in December 2025 after strong World Cup performances, including two downhill wins and three podiums this season. She leads the downhill standings and holds the record with 12 World Cup victories in Cortina.
On January 30, 2026, Vonn crashed during a women's World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, ending up in the safety nets before being hospitalized. An MRI confirmed the full ACL tear in her left knee—previously her stronger one—along with bone bruising and meniscal damage. Despite the setback, Vonn underwent intensive therapy and skied again by February 3, showing no swelling.
At a U.S. Ski Team press conference in Cortina d'Ampezzo on February 3, Vonn expressed confidence: "My knee is not swollen, and with the help of a knee brace, I am confident that I can compete on Sunday." She added, "I know my chances aren’t the same as it stands today, but as long as there’s a chance, I will try." Surgery has not been discussed, with Vonn prioritizing the Olympics: "The Olympics are the only thing that I’m thinking about."
Her coach, Chris Knight, supports the decision: "I’m pretty confident that she can still pull off this dream. I’ve got no doubts in my mind that this is going to be OK." Teammate Breezy Johnson defended Vonn against critics: "She’s gone completely mad? Nah, she’s Lindsey Vonn."
The Milano Cortina Games run from February 6 to 22, with women's alpine events in Cortina on the Olimpia delle Tofane course. The first downhill training, scheduled for February 5, was canceled due to heavy snow, shifting to February 6. Vonn plans to skip the super-G on February 12 initially, focusing on downhill and possibly the team combined event. This would make her the oldest female alpine Olympian, building on her three medals: gold in downhill (2010) and bronzes in super-G (2010) and downhill (2018).
Experts note skiing without a functioning ACL is possible but risky, requiring muscle compensation, especially with her partial titanium right knee replacement in 2024. Vonn's workouts, including box jumps and weighted pool exercises, demonstrate her progress, though further injury remains a concern.
