As the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics heat up, one storyline dominates the slopes: Lindsey Vonn’s jaw-dropping determination to race the women’s downhill on Sunday, February 8, despite a complete ACL rupture in her left knee just over a week ago.
The 41-year-old legend, who returned from retirement to chase one final Olympic moment, crashed during a World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana on January 30, suffering the tear along with bone bruising and meniscal damage. Yet Vonn declared her intent to compete, completed successful training runs on the iconic Tofane course—including strong performances on February 6 and 7—and shut down skeptics insisting her knee is “100% gone” but stable enough for the challenge.
Now, even her fellow American superstar is buzzing. Mikaela Shiffrin, the most decorated alpine skier in history and a double Olympic champion, shared her genuine thrill at watching Vonn take on the “Queen of Speed” event.
“I’m so excited to watch,” Shiffrin said in a recent interview with NBC Boston. “I think we all are. Her tenacity, and grit, and what she’s showing up with this Olympics, staying true to her own values. That’s straight-up beautiful.”
Shiffrin, who is not competing in the downhill but will cheer from the sidelines during her recovery day, praised Vonn’s unbreakable spirit amid the high-stakes comeback. The Tofane course—where Vonn has claimed a record 12 World Cup wins—holds special magic for the veteran, who already has an Olympic downhill gold from Vancouver 2010 and aims to become the oldest alpine medalist ever.
The field remains fierce, with Italy’s Sofia Goggia (defending champion and home favorite) and Team USA’s Breezy Johnson among top threats. But Vonn’s saga has captured global attention, turning Sunday’s single-run race (starting at 11:30 a.m. CET / 5:30 a.m. ET) into one of the Games’ most anticipated spectacles.
Broadcast live on NBC, USA Network, Peacock, and NBCOlympics.com, this downhill promises drama, speed, and inspiration. Vonn’s bid isn’t just about a medal—it’s about rewriting limits, one daring turn at a time.
As Shiffrin put it: pure excitement. The world will be watching. Let’s go, Lindsey. 💪
