Just over a week after tearing her left ACL in a dramatic crash, 41-year-old skiing legend Lindsey Vonn powered through her second consecutive successful downhill training run on Saturday, clocking the third-fastest time and signaling she’s ready to chase Olympic glory in Sunday’s women’s downhill race.
Vonn, competing in her first Olympics since 2018 after an inspiring comeback from retirement, finished just 0.37 seconds behind teammate Breezy Johnson, who topped the session with a blistering 1:37.91. Vonn’s time of 1:38.28 marked a sharp improvement of more than two seconds from her Friday run, where she placed 11th while testing the stability of her heavily braced knee.
The American star navigated the demanding Olympia delle Tofane course with confidence, pumping her fist at the finish and exchanging celebratory gestures with Johnson. “All good,” Vonn told The Associated Press afterward, showing no signs of hesitation or pain from the severe injury that would sideline most athletes for months—or end their season entirely.
Despite a few minor technical wobbles near the bottom of the course—similar to those in her previous training—Vonn’s performance underscored her resilience and deep experience on this track, where she holds the record for 12 World Cup downhill wins.
The final training session was cut short due to foggy and snowy conditions after only 21 skiers started, but Vonn had already checked the critical box: proving her knee could handle the high-speed demands ahead of the medal event.
Vonn tore her ACL, along with sustaining a bone bruise and meniscus damage, during a World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on January 31. Airlifted off the course, she quickly declared her Olympic dream alive, posting defiantly on social media: “My Olympic dream is not over.”
Now, with the brace on and determination dialed up, the three-time Olympic medalist (including gold in 2010) is poised to make history as one of the oldest competitors to medal in Alpine skiing—and perhaps the most improbable comeback story of these Milan Cortina Games.
Sunday’s downhill promises high drama, with Vonn, Johnson, and other top contenders like Sofia Goggia ready to battle on one of the sport’s most iconic slopes. For Vonn, it’s not just about the result—it’s about defying the odds one more time.
