Lindsey Vonn Set to Compete in Olympics Despite Serious Knee Injury
“I’m going to do it,” declared Lindsey Vonn, the American skier, who is determined to compete in the Olympics even after suffering a significant anterior cruciate ligament tear just last week. “I can’t pass this up,” she emphasized. “I’ll do it, end of story!”
The 41-year-old skier expressed her optimism, stating, “I’m not going to allow myself to go down a negative path. I’m not crying; instead, I’m holding my head high, standing tall, and I’m going to give it my all. Whatever happens, happens. At least I can say I tried.”
Vonn encountered a challenging situation during the final race of the Alpine Skiing World Cup in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, last Friday, where she ended up hospitalized. Doctors later confirmed that the ACL in her left knee had been “completely torn.”
Conditions on the course were reportedly dire, with multiple competitors, including two others, crashing during the event, as noted by several skiers and CNN.
Still, Vonn plans to participate in the women’s downhill event this Sunday, coinciding with the 2026 Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. She insists that, despite her injury, she is fully committed to competing.
“I’ve got one training session left for Sunday’s race, but I’m confident in my body’s capability to perform. My knee is stable, swelling is non-existent, and my muscles are functioning normally,” she shared on Instagram.
“Of course, I’ll continue to have daily evaluations with my medical team to ensure I’m making the best decisions, but I’ll be out there on Sunday,” she said.
When speaking to journalists, Vonn mentioned that she “doesn’t want to regret” missing the opportunity to compete, adding, “All I’m thinking about is the Olympics. My knee is improving day by day.”
Interestingly, if she were to win a medal this year despite facing a serious injury at 41, she regarded it as “a pretty great comeback.” “Then we’ll make it to the starting gate,” she said with a hint of optimism. “This is probably the best comeback I’ve ever made. It’s definitely the most dramatic, that’s for sure.”
