Lindsey Vonn Confident She Can Race at Milan Cortina Despite Ruptured ACL
Vonn says a 'completely ruptured' left ACL with bone bruising and meniscal damage will still allow her to ski in Sunday's Olympic downhill with a brace.
Overview
Lindsey Vonn said Tuesday she is "confident" she can compete in the women's downhill on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, despite a "completely ruptured" left anterior cruciate ligament and bone bruising, according to her press briefing in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Vonn crashed on Jan. 30, 2026, in a World Cup downhill at Crans-Montana, Switzerland, and was airlifted to a hospital after finishing the run and getting tangled in safety nets, a race official said.
Team and medical advisers allowed Vonn to ski Tuesday after three days of physical therapy and scans showed meniscal damage that doctors could not confirm was pre-existing, the athlete said.
Teammate Bella Wright and coach Aksel Lund Svindal offered support, while Vonn acknowledged reduced medal chances but pledged to "do everything in my power to be in the starting gate," in televised comments.
The Olympic women's downhill training session is set for Thursday and Vonn must complete a training run to be eligible to race on Feb. 8, 2026, with final participation decisions to be made daily by her medical team.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame Lindsey Vonn’s story as a heroic comeback, using evaluative terms ('remarkable'), fate language ('bordering on "fate"') and chronological emphasis that foregrounds her resilience. Editorial choices privilege Vonn’s perspective and quotes while omitting medical/third-party risk analysis; the result is an emotionally sympathetic, athlete-centered narrative.
Sources (14)
FAQ
Lindsey Vonn suffered a completely ruptured left ACL, bone bruising, and meniscal damage after crashing on Jan. 30, 2026, in a World Cup downhill at Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
The women's downhill is on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. Vonn must complete a training run on Thursday to be eligible, with daily decisions by her medical team.
Vonn expressed confidence in competing despite the injury, stating she will 'do everything in my power to be in the starting gate,' and plans to ski with a brace after physical therapy.
Teammate Bella Wright and coach Aksel Lund Svindal offered support; her coach provided a telling Olympics update, and medical advisers cleared her to ski Tuesday after scans.
History
4 sources