Just days after hobbling around on crutches following a brutal crash, Lindsey Vonn is already crushing box jumps, pool workouts in a weighted vest, and high-speed skiing sessions. Her head coach has zero hesitation: there’s “no doubt” the 41-year-old American legend will line up for Sunday’s Olympic women’s downhill despite a completely ruptured ACL in her left knee.
The injury occurred during a World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, last Friday, when Vonn lost control after landing a jump and slammed into the safety nets. The crash left her with a fully torn ACL, bone bruising, and meniscal damage—typically a season-ender requiring surgery and months of recovery.
Yet Vonn’s rapid turnaround has stunned even those closest to her. After intensive physical therapy, medical evaluations, and on-snow testing earlier this week, she reported no swelling, no pain, and impressive stability with a custom knee brace. She’s back on the mountain, pushing limits in what she calls one of her most dramatic comebacks yet.
Chris Knight, Vonn’s head coach, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that her progress is remarkable. “I’m pretty confident that she can still pull off this dream,” Knight said, adding there’s “no doubt” she’ll race. He highlighted her ability to perform explosive box jumps and other strength work without setbacks, underscoring her elite conditioning and mental toughness.
Vonn, who came out of retirement for this final Olympic shot, remains laser-focused. She plans to compete in the downhill on Sunday, with intentions to tackle the super-G and possibly the new team combined if her knee holds up. “I will do everything in my power to be in the starting gate,” she declared earlier this week.
This isn’t Vonn’s first rodeo with serious knee issues—she won bronze at the 2019 World Championships despite no LCL and multiple tibial plateau fractures. But experts emphasize the extreme risks here: downhill skiing demands explosive power and stability at speeds over 80 mph, and a torn ACL leaves the knee vulnerable to further tears or collapse under twisting forces.
Still, Vonn’s superhuman fitness, pain threshold, top-tier rehab support, and brace make it feasible—if incredibly bold. Surgery hasn’t even been on the table yet; her priority is chasing one last medal in what she’s signaled will be her farewell to competitive skiing.
With a history of multiple wins on the Cortina course and three Olympic medals already, Vonn is defying the odds once more. The skiing world holds its breath: will grit, braces, and sheer willpower deliver the ultimate comeback story? Sunday’s start gate will tell the tale.
