Lindsey Vonn Plans to Compete in Olympics Despite Injury
Lindsey Vonn, a three-time Olympic medalist, has expressed her intentions to participate in the Winter Olympics despite having sustained a tear in her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Dr. Rick Lehman, an expert in sports medicine, commented on her mental resilience and evaluated both her potential and the associated risks with her decision.
In an unfortunate turn of events, Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris had to withdraw from the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games after a serious accident during practice on Wednesday. McMorris, who claimed gold in the 2021 World Championships’ big air event, was anticipated to contend for a medal in this year’s Winter Olympics. Sadly, he experienced a harsh fall that necessitated being carried off the slopes on a stretcher and receiving brief hospital treatment.
Following the incident, McMorris shared on Instagram, “Due to a hit to the head, unfortunately, I will not be able to compete in Big Air tonight.” However, he remains optimistic about participating in the slopestyle competition starting on February 16th, where he has previously secured three Olympic bronze medals.
“I’m just trying to stay positive and focus on the event,” he said, showing gratitude for the exceptional care from the medical team and the overwhelming support from fans and colleagues.
Brendan Matthews, a Canadian snowboarding official, noted that McMorris was released from the hospital shortly after the incident, emphasizing that it’s standard protocol for athletes to be transported on a stretcher following such falls. “It’s always alarming to see someone take a hard spill like that, but considering the circumstances, this is encouraging news,” Matthews mentioned.
It is anticipated that Australia’s Val Guseli will step in for McMorris in the big air competition, even though he typically competes in halfpipe events.
McMorris has had recent success, securing a silver medal in the halfpipe at the 2023 World Championships and a bronze at the 2023 Winter X Games.
