Olympic skiing icon Lindsey Vonn is keeping the world on edge with her unbreakable spirit. Just days after confirming a “completely ruptured” ACL in her left knee from a terrifying crash last Friday in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, the 41-year-old legend revealed Tuesday that she hasn’t pushed to full downhill speed since the injury—but she’s planning to test it soon and decide day by day whether she’ll line up for Sunday’s women’s Olympic downhill.
In a candid update from Cortina, Vonn explained she’s undergone intensive therapy, consulted doctors, hit the gym, and even skied earlier in the day. While her knee feels stable and strong with a brace—and shows no swelling—she’s holding off on high-speed runs for now.
“I have not skied downhill full speed since my injury,” Vonn said. “But I will do it in the next couple of days and reevaluate how I feel every day until I compete on Sunday.”
The crash occurred during the final World Cup downhill before the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, sending Vonn into the safety nets. She was airlifted for evaluation and later diagnosed with the full ACL tear, bone bruising, and meniscal damage—on top of her existing titanium implant in the right knee from prior surgeries.
Despite the setback, Vonn remains fiercely determined. “As long as there’s a chance, I will try,” she insisted earlier this week, vowing to do “everything in my power” to reach the starting gate. She’s eyeing not just the downhill—where she holds the Cortina World Cup record with 12 wins—but also super-G and the team combined event.
Vonn’s grit is legendary. She’s overcome devastating knee injuries before, including a torn ACL in 2013 that cost her the 2014 Sochi Games, and severe damage before the 2019 worlds where she still snagged bronze. Her stunning comeback last season after a six-year retirement has seen her dominate the downhill circuit with podium after podium.
Teammates and medical experts alike point to precedents: Sofia Goggia won silver at the 2022 Olympics weeks after a partial ACL tear and fracture. Many elite skiers compete with compromised knees.
With women’s downhill training set to begin Thursday and the race on Sunday—right after the Games’ Friday opening ceremony—all eyes are on Vonn. Will her body hold up at race pace? Or will this be the most dramatic chapter yet in one of skiing’s greatest comeback stories?
One thing’s clear: Lindsey Vonn isn’t backing down without a fight. The queen of the slopes is writing her own ending. 💪⛷️
