Lindsey Vonn responds to critics during her recovery from injury

Lindsey Vonn Defends Olympic Spot Amid Criticism

Lindsey Vonn, the American Olympian, has responded to backlash regarding her selection for Team USA, especially after experiencing a torn ACL and a broken leg.

Currently recovering from multiple surgeries due to a leg injury she sustained during the women’s alpine ski downhill event at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, Vonn returned to the U.S. just last week.

At 41, she insists her quest to compete wasn’t for nothing. “That was it. And it wasn’t a dream…As far away as it seems now as I sit in this hospital bed,” she shared in a recent Instagram video.

She added, “But I did it. I came back. I won. I showed up and accomplished something that was considered impossible at my age: a partial knee replacement. These memories will stay with me forever and I’m grateful for each one. Every moment was amazing. Every moment was worth it.”

Vonn reflected on the tough comments she received, with people accusing her of being selfish for not allowing another athlete to take her Olympic spot.

She remembered her stellar performance in the previous World Cup season, where she ranked first in downhill and third in super-G. Vonn achieved podium finishes in seven of the eight events she participated in.

“It’s not impossible until it’s done. Even though we didn’t reach our final goal… we still accomplished a lot,” she concluded. “Thank you to everyone who believed in me.”