Lindsey Vonn plans to return to the Olympics despite ACL injury
Three-time Olympic medalist Lindsey Vonn talks about her plan to compete in the Winter Olympics despite tearing her ACL. Sports medicine expert Dr. Rick Lehman evaluates your chances and the risks involved, highlighting your mental toughness.
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Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn returned to training just days after she “completely tore” her ACL in an accident, a setback that came just a week before the American ski star returned to the Winter Games in Milan Cortina.
In a video posted to her social media on Thursday, Vonn performed a series of workouts that included squats, box jumps and lateral lunges. He was wearing a knee brace on his left leg as a result of the numerous injuries he suffered after crashing during a World Cup race in Switzerland on Saturday.
Lindsey Vonn holds her left knee after crashing during the women’s World Cup downhill race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on Jan. 30, 2026. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
“I won’t give up,” she wrote in the caption of an Instagram post. “Working as hard as I can to make this happen!”
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“Thank you to my team and everyone for your incredible support,” he continued. “Keep believing.”
Vonn revealed the extent of her injuries on Tuesday, but said she will 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 meniscus damage, which we’re not sure was pre-existing or due to the accident,” he told reporters during a news conference.
“We’ve been doing extensive therapy, seeing doctors, been in the gym and went skiing today. And considering how my knee feels, my knee feels 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 Shbair)
LINDSEY VONN TO COMPETE IN WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES AFTER SUFFERING ‘COMPLETELY RUPTURED’ ACL IN WORLD CUP ACCIDENT
Vonn’s head coach, Chris Knight, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he is “pretty confident” Vonn will be able to do it. He will have to participate in at least one training race to be able to compete in Sunday’s competition.
“I have no doubt this is going to be good,” Knight added. “He’s been doing box jumps, he’s trying everything, loads, stress and things like that to see where he is and how he feels, and he’s come out of everything very well.”
Vonn, 41, made a surprising return to the sport last year after nearly six years away from competition. His return came after a partial titanium replacement inserted into his right knee, which had been performed in 2024.
Lindsey Vonn competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup women’s downhill on the Prampero slope in 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 crash,” Vonn said Tuesday. “I’ve been injured more times than I’d like to admit, but those are the cards I’ve been dealt in my life. And I’m going to play my cards the best I can.”
Vonn is scheduled for her first Olympic event in women’s downhill on Sunday. She is also scheduled to compete in the super-G event and the new team combined event.
