Lindsey Vonn’s improbable Olympic comeback just got even more extraordinary. The 41-year-old American skiing icon, who ruptured her left ACL less than two weeks ago, is pushing forward with fierce determination—and her head coach has zero doubts she’ll line up for Sunday’s women’s downhill.
From crutches over the weekend to box jumps, weighted pool workouts, and high-speed skiing in recent days, Vonn’s rapid progress has stunned even those closest to her. “She’s pulled up great from everything,” head coach Chris Knight told the Associated Press on Wednesday. “No swelling, no pain.”
Knight added with conviction: “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.”
The injury struck during a World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on January 30, when Vonn lost control after landing a jump and slammed into the safety nets. Scans revealed a complete ACL tear, bone bruising, and meniscal damage in her left knee—compounding a career already marked by multiple knee reconstructions, including a partial titanium replacement in her right knee in 2024.
Despite the severity, surgery isn’t on the table right now. “It’s not really on my radar screen,” Vonn said Tuesday. “The Olympics are the only thing that I’m thinking about.” Her medical team—including two physical therapists and a fitness trainer—has been relentless, testing her knee under increasing loads. Vonn reported daily improvements, stability with bracing, and full muscle function.
The timing offered a small gift: heavy snowfall forced organizers to cancel Thursday’s opening women’s downhill training session on the Tofane course. While Vonn needs at least one official training run to qualify for Sunday’s race (with sessions still slated for Friday and Saturday), the delay provides precious extra recovery time. Knight noted the team remains flexible, ready to adapt based on conditions.
Vonn, a three-time Olympic medalist—including downhill gold in 2010—holds the women’s World Cup wins record (83) and has a storied history in Cortina, with 12 victories there over nearly 25 years. This Olympics marks her fifth Games and likely her last, fueled by personal motivations: honoring her late mother Lindy (who died of ALS in 2022) and childhood coach Erich Sailer (who passed away last August at 99). She even visited Sailer’s grave en route to Italy.
Risks remain—experts note competing on a torn ACL at elite speeds is dangerous, especially at 41—but Vonn’s history of defying odds and her current markers of progress make the call straightforward for her camp. “We’re on familiar territory,” Knight said of the comeback project.
As the snow continues to fall in Cortina, one thing is clear: Lindsey Vonn isn’t backing down. With her knee stabilizing and her resolve unbreakable, the starting gate awaits—and so does one of the most inspiring stories in Olympic history.
