A California writer and cancer survivor has shared a deeply personal reflection on how legendary skier Lindsey Vonn’s grit amid devastating injuries helped her conquer her own fears after tearing her ACL on the slopes.
In a heartfelt “My Turn” essay published by Newsweek on February 20, 2026, Madison Chapman recounts her parallel journey with Vonn, the 41-year-old American alpine skiing icon whose dramatic crash during the women’s downhill at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics ended her comeback attempt in heartbreak.
Vonn, who had torn her left ACL just days before the Games in late January, still competed in the event on February 8. She clipped a gate early in her run, suffering a severe complex tibia fracture in her left leg. The injury required multiple surgeries in Italy—four initially, with more planned—and left her airlifted off the course in agony. Despite the setback, Vonn emphasized that the crash stemmed from pushing her limits aggressively, not her prior ACL tear, posting on social media: “We jump. And sometimes we fall.”
Chapman, who battled Stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 25 and skied shortly after starting chemotherapy as a symbol of normalcy, tore her own left ACL during a run at Big Bear, California. Like Vonn, she skied down gingerly despite the injury. Post-surgery and remission, Chapman initially approached skiing with caution, haunted by fear of reinjury and the toll of recovery from both cancer and knee surgery.
Inspired by Vonn’s relentless determination—even becoming the oldest woman to win a World Cup title in December 2025 and pushing through her ACL tear to race at the Olympics—Chapman rediscovered her courage. She channeled Vonn’s mindset during recent sessions, progressing from hesitant descents to conquering her first black diamond run.
“The beauty of life is that we try,” Chapman writes, echoing Vonn’s philosophy. She credits the skier’s positivity and perseverance for shifting her perspective: living without risk, cocooned from potential pain, robs life of joy and fulfillment.
While Vonn did not medal—her run ended in DNF (Did Not Finish)—Chapman argues her effort embodied true Olympic spirit, inspiring everyday people facing adversity. “She may not have left Italy holding the gold, but her comeback was already a legendary feat of perseverance for people like me,” Chapman reflects.
Vonn, now back in the U.S. and continuing recovery from what she described as “a lot more severe” than a simple broken leg, remains immobile but determined. Chapman wishes her a full return to freedom beyond grief and injury—the same gift Vonn unknowingly gave her.
Madison Chapman, a writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, HuffPost, The Washington Post, and TIME, concludes that Vonn reminded us all why we push forward: to embrace risk, live boldly, and redefine ourselves as champions over adversity.
