Next up is Lindsey Vonn.
Despite tearing her left ACL just last week, Vonn completed her second preparation for the 2026 Olympics in Italy on Saturday and is set to compete in the women’s downhill event on Sunday.
Her coach, Aksel Lund Svindal, mentioned that the 41-year-old has two significant challenges to overcome in her quest for gold following such a severe injury after finishing third in the trial run.
The first challenge is the intensity required to win, as Vonn finished Saturday’s run 0.37 seconds behind her teammate Breezy Johnson, who took first place.
“She knows she needs to step it up tomorrow; the other competitors will too, especially in Olympic downhill racing. If she doesn’t put in the effort, securing a medal will be tough,” Svindal shared with the Associated Press. “I believe she’s prepared for that.”
The second challenge involves the functionality of her knee during jumps, raising questions about her ability to compete so soon after the injury.
Reports indicate that Vonn has been working on her balance while landing after jumps over the past two training sessions, a critical aspect since even minor issues can impact medal chances.
“Try to minimize the impact tomorrow if you can,” Svindal advised, noting that landing can be particularly painful for Vonn.
“Everything feels fine,” Vonn told the Associated Press after her run, expressing confidence in her ability to overcome the obstacles as she aims to return to the Olympics after her retirement.
Vonn, who faced injuries in the past and retired in 2019, made the decision to attempt a comeback for the 2026 Olympics, hoping for another shot at gold.
This ambition appeared threatened last week when she tore her ACL while getting ready for the Olympics.
Interestingly, she didn’t let that stop her—she strapped on a significant brace on her left knee and participated in two trial runs on Friday and Saturday ahead of Sunday’s competition.
Svindal mentioned that while the brace has affected her aerodynamics, they aren’t overly concerned.
“We’re not focusing on that. If she starts saying she wants the brace off, there are medical professionals who would definitely have an opinion on that,” he remarked. “Let’s avoid that question.”
