Rupturing an ACL is quite possibly one of the most severe injuries athletes can face. It’s not uncommon for professional sports figures in their 20s to find themselves out of action for over a year due to this kind of setback.
There are plenty of stories about top-tier athletes taking a long time to recover, so it’s pretty astounding that Lindsey Vonn, at 41 years old, is gearing up for the Olympics just a week after her injury.
In fact, Vonn managed to finish 11th out of 45 in a training run on Friday, which really signals her potential to grab a medal in the upcoming downhill race on Sunday. This will mark her return to competition after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.
After a sports medicine doctor expressed doubt about the seriousness of her injury, Vonn had a pretty cheeky response. She tweeted, “LOL, thank you, Doctor. Up until last Friday, my anterior cruciate ligament was fully functional. Just because it seems impossible to you doesn’t mean it isn’t. And yes, my ACL is 100% torn. Not 80% or 50%. It’s 100% gone.”
The doctor, Brian Sutterer from Missouri, had initially raised questions about whether she truly tore her ACL last week. He speculated, “What condition was her ACL in before last week’s crash? What she’s able to do now wouldn’t be shocking for an elite athlete whose knee was already somewhat compromised. You often hear athletes say they played for years with a torn ACL, which suggests a chronic condition where their body has adapted.”
He added, “It’s also worth noting that those who have experienced previous tears or surgery may not show immediate swelling or pain from a subsequent injury. I don’t think this was a fresh ACL tear like everyone assumed.”
Vonn, who has been skiing with a knee brace, has received a lot of medical intervention since her injury. Still, she mentioned, “Considering how my knee feels, I feel pretty stable and strong.”
In a heartfelt Instagram post, she shared, “No one would have believed I’d be here. But I made it!! I’m here, smiling, and no matter what, I recognize how lucky I am. I intend to make the most of this opportunity.”
