Defying expectations and a severe knee injury, 41-year-old U.S. Alpine skiing icon Lindsey Vonn successfully navigated her first official downhill training run on Friday at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, just one week after tearing her left ACL.
The training session on the iconic Olimpia delle Tofane course was briefly delayed by about 30 minutes due to foggy conditions on the upper section, but Vonn remained upbeat throughout. She emerged from the finish area smiling, even joining teammates for a light-hearted mini dance in front of cameras, signaling strong comfort and confidence in her injured knee despite wearing a large brace.
Vonn posted a time of 1:40.33, placing 11th among the 43 finishers. While training times carry no official weight for the competition, completing at least one run was a mandatory requirement for eligibility in Sunday’s women’s downhill event, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. CET (5:30 a.m. EST). She avoided significant errors during the run, demonstrating solid control on a demanding course.
Leading the session was fellow American Jacqueline “Jackie” Wiles, who clocked the fastest time of 1:38.94. Wiles, with two prior World Cup podiums in Cortina (most recently in 2024), heads into the race as a strong contender. Other top favorites, including Germany’s Kira Weidle-Winkelmann and Italy’s Sofia Goggia, rounded out the early top 10, though some times remained under review due to minor course deviations.
Vonn suffered the injury—a complete ACL rupture along with meniscus damage and bone bruising—during a crash at a World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on January 30. The setback came as she prepared for what could be her final Olympic appearance, marking her return after a partial knee replacement in her right knee in 2024 and years away from the sport.
Earlier Friday, Vonn shared her determination on social media: “I’m not going to waste this chance.” She skipped speaking to the press at the finish, walking past reporters with her gaze lowered. Her coach, Norwegian Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal, expressed uncertainty about whether she will participate in Saturday’s third (and final) training run—the second opportunity after Thursday’s session was canceled due to heavy snow.
Vonn, a three-time Olympic medalist including downhill gold at Vancouver 2010, continues to inspire with her resilience. Her coach has voiced belief in her medal potential, calling her performance a positive step forward physically and mentally.
The women’s downhill race on Sunday will determine if Vonn can add to her storied legacy in one of the sport’s most grueling events, turning an improbable comeback into Olympic history.
