Lindsey Vonn plans Olympics return despite ACL injury
Three-time Olympic medalist Lindsey Vonn discusses her plans to compete in the Winter Olympics despite rupturing her ACL. Sports medicine expert Dr. Rick Lehman weighs his chances and the risks involved, noting his mental toughness.
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Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn was back in training just days after “completely rupturing” her ACL in a fall, a setback that came just a week before the American ski star was due to make her return to the Winter Games in Milan Cortina.
In a video posted to her social media on Thursday, Vonn performed a series of exercises including squats, box jumps and side lunges. She was wearing a knee brace on her left leg due to the numerous injuries she suffered after falling during a World Cup race in Switzerland on Saturday.
Lindsey Vonn holds her left knee after a fall during the women’s World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, January 30, 2026. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
“I’m not giving up,” she captioned an Instagram post. “I’m working as hard as I can to get there!” »
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“Thank you to my team and everyone for your incredible support,” she continued. “Keep believing.”
Vonn revealed the extent of her injuries on Tuesday, but said she would continue with her goal of competing in her first event on Sunday, the women’s downhill.
“I completely tore my ACL. I also have bone bruising, which is a common injury when you tear your ACL, as well as meniscal damage, which we don’t know if it was pre-existing or due to the accident,” she told reporters at a news conference.
“We’ve been through extensive therapy, seen doctors, been to the gym and today I went skiing. And based on the way my knee feels, my knee is stable, I feel strong, my knee is not swollen and with the help of a knee brace I’m confident I can compete on Sunday.”
Lindsey Vonn attends a press conference with the ski team at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The event took place in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy on February 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Chbaïr)
LINDSEY VONN TO COMPETE IN WINTER OLYMPICS DAYS AFTER SUFFERING “COMPLETELY RUPTURED” ACL IN WORLD CUP ACCIDENT
Vonn head coach Chris Knight told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he’s “pretty confident” Vonn will be able to succeed. She will need to participate in at least one training race to be able to participate in Sunday’s competition.
“I have no doubt that everything will be fine,” Knight added. “She’s doing box jumps, she’s trying everything, weights and stresses and things like that to see where she’s at and see how she feels and she’s doing well with it.”
Vonn, 41, made a stunning return to the sport last year after nearly six years away from competition. Her return follows a partial titanium arthroplasty inserted into her right knee, which she had carried out in 2024.
Lindsey Vonn competes in the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup women’s downhill on the Prampero slope of Monte Lussari. The event took place in Tarvisio, Italy on January 17, 2026. (Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)
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“Downhill is a very dangerous sport and anything can happen. And because I push the limits, I fall,” Vonn said Tuesday. “I’ve been hurt more times than I’d even like to admit, but these are the cards I’ve been dealt in my life. And I’m going to play my cards the best I can.”
Vonn will compete in her first Olympic event in women’s downhill on Sunday. She is also expected to compete in the super-G and the new team combined event.
