Lindsey Vonn, the 41-year-old American skiing legend, revealed she ruptured her left ACL in a crash last week but intends to compete in the women's downhill at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. The injury occurred during a World Cup race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, just days before her event in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. Experts say the bid is extraordinary but possible with her elite conditioning and a knee brace.
Lindsey Vonn's determination to race on despite a complete rupture of her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee has captivated the sports world as the 2026 Winter Olympics begin. The injury happened last Friday during a World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, where Vonn crashed after failing to navigate a sharp turn. She also sustained bone bruising and meniscal damage but announced on Tuesday that her knee was not swollen and felt stable after treatment.
Vonn, who returned to elite competition last year after a five-year retirement and a robot-assisted partial knee replacement on her right knee in April 2024, emphasized her resolve. "I know what my chances were before the crash, and I know my chances aren't the same as it stands today, but I know there's still a chance. And as long as there's a chance, I will try," she said in Milan. She plans to use a knee brace and has skied recently, though not at full speed, expressing confidence for Sunday's race on the Olympia delle Tofane course in Cortina d'Ampezzo, where she holds a record 12 World Cup victories.
Medical experts offered cautious optimism. Douglas Van Citters, a musculoskeletal scientist at Dartmouth College, noted that some athletes can function without an ACL if surrounding muscles and ligaments provide stability. "She is incredibly fit, and those structures may still be sufficiently intact," he said. However, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Kevin Stone warned of high risks, including further injuries like meniscus tears, given the demands of downhill skiing at 70-80 mph. A torn ACL typically requires surgery and six to nine months of rehabilitation.
Vonn's mental coach, Dr. Armando Gonzalez, highlighted her unique pain tolerance and purpose: to inspire young girls with grit. Teammate Ryan Cochran-Siegle echoed this, calling her fortitude "incredible." New England Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs, who recovered from his own ACL tear, praised her mental toughness, hoping she avoids deceleration moves that could worsen the injury.
Training runs begin Thursday, though the first was canceled due to snow, with racers needing at least one to qualify. Vonn's comeback story adds drama to an event headlined by stars like Mikaela Shiffrin and Marco Odermatt, but her participation underscores resilience over medals—she already has Olympic gold from 2010 and 84 World Cup wins.
