Lindsey Vonn Declares She Will Compete in 2026 Olympic Downhill After ACL Rupture
Updated (3 articles)
Severe Left‑Knee Injury Confirmed Days Before Opening Ceremony Vonn suffered a complete rupture of the left anterior cruciate ligament, extensive bone bruising and meniscal damage during a crash at the Crans‑Montana World Cup downhill on Friday, February 1, 2026, and was airlifted for evaluation [1][2][3]. The accident forced the race’s cancellation and prompted immediate medical imaging that verified the full ACL tear [3]. Despite the severity, Vonn announced she will attempt to race at the Milan‑Cortina Games scheduled to begin February 8 [1][2].
Olympic Event Schedule Remains Intact Vonn plans to start with the women’s downhill on February 8, followed by entries in the super‑G and the newly introduced team combined event [1][2][3]. She expects to train on Thursday, February 5, to fine‑tune her approach on the Cortina course [2]. Her commitment includes competing in all three disciplines despite the injury, emphasizing “no regrets” in her public statements [1].
Season‑Leading Performance Bolstered by Titanium Knee Implant Returning after a six‑year hiatus, Vonn leads the World Cup downhill standings with two victories and podium finishes in seven of eight races this season [1][2][3]. She races with a partial titanium implant in her right knee, custom‑designed from a 3‑D model by Dr. Martin Roche, which received clearance from medical officials [1]. The implant has not hindered her results, as she remains the top downhiller heading into the Olympics [2].
Medical Community Cites Precedents for Competing with ACL Tears International Ski Federation chief Urs Lehmann stated that final Olympic eligibility will depend on doctors’ assessments, underscoring the uncertainty of Vonn’s condition [3]. Italian Winter Sports Federation chief physician Andrea Panzeri referenced past elite skiers—Sofia Goggia’s 2022 silver medal and Flora Tabanelli’s delayed surgery—as examples of athletes succeeding with similar injuries [2]. Teammates Bella Wright and Breezy Johnson publicly praised Vonn’s mental toughness and willingness to race injured [2].
Personal Resolve Drives Vonn’s Comeback At 41, Vonn cites honoring her late grandfather and avoiding future regrets as motivations for racing despite the rupture [1]. She highlighted a history of multiple injuries—including two prior ACL tears, fractures, and back issues—yet continues to push boundaries [1]. During the press conference she appeared in a Team USA Ralph Lauren parka, reinforcing her national representation [1].
Sources
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1.
CNN: Lindsey Vonn vows to race downhill at 2026 Winter Olympics despite ruptured ACL – Details Vonn’s full left‑ACL rupture, titanium knee design from a 3‑D model, her historic World Cup wins at age 41, and personal determination to honor her grandfather while wearing a Team USA parka .
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King5: Lindsey Vonn says she can race at Milan‑Cortina despite ruptured ACL – Emphasizes Vonn’s confidence after the Crans‑Montana crash, her plan to compete in downhill, super‑G and team combined, cites medical precedents like Sofia Goggia, and includes teammate endorsements of her mental toughness .
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AP: Lindsey Vonn’s Pre‑Olympic Crash Leaves Knee Injury, Olympic Hope Intact – Reports the crash’s impact on the World Cup event, Vonn’s Instagram message about an unfinished Olympic dream, ISF chief Urs Lehmann’s comment on medical clearance, and her season‑leading downhill performance with a partial titanium implant .
Timeline
2025 season – Lindsey Vonn returns after a six‑year hiatus, wins two downhill World Cup races at age 41 (becoming the oldest downhill winner ever) and leads the current season’s downhill standings, demonstrating that her titanium‑implant right knee allows her to compete at the top level again [1][2].
Jan 30, 2026 – Vonn crashes in the final pre‑Olympic downhill at Crans‑Montana, Switzerland, tangles in safety nets and suffers a left‑knee ACL rupture, bone bruising and meniscal damage; the race is cancelled amid low‑visibility conditions [2].
Jan 30, 2026 – On Instagram Vonn writes “my Olympic dream is not over,” thanking supporters and saying she is discussing the injury with doctors while remaining determined to race in Milan‑Cortina [2].
Jan 30, 2026 – International Ski and Snowboard Federation chief Urs Lehmann says doctors will decide Vonn’s Olympic eligibility, emphasizing that the final call rests on medical assessments [2].
Jan 30, 2026 – Prior to Vonn’s crash, Austria’s Nina Ortlieb and Norway’s Marte Monsen also fall, and French skier Romane Miradoli describes the course as “bumpy everywhere” with heavy snowfall, underscoring the hazardous conditions [2].
Feb 3, 2026 – Vonn declares she can compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics despite a completely ruptured ACL, bone bruising and meniscal damage, stating she will start with the women’s downhill two days after the opening ceremony and also target the super‑G and team combined events [3].
Feb 3, 2026 – Italian Winter Sports Federation chief physician Andrea Panzeri cites precedents of elite skiers racing with torn ACLs, referencing Sofia Goggia’s 2022 silver medal and Flora Tabanelli’s postponed surgery, to support Vonn’s confidence [3].
Feb 3, 2026 – Teammates Bella Wright and Breezy Johnson back Vonn’s mental toughness, saying she has the strength to ski through injury and that many athletes compete without an intact ACL [3].
Feb 4, 2026 – Vonn vows to race the Olympic downhill, saying she will not “let this slip through my fingers” and will ski “as long as I have the ability,” honoring her late grandfather and refusing to have regrets [1].
Feb 4, 2026 – Florida surgeon Dr. Martin Roche finalizes a 3‑D‑modeled titanium implant for Vonn’s right knee, and doctors clear her to race despite uncertainty about performance with the prosthetic [1].
Feb 8, 2026 (planned) – Vonn’s Olympic schedule lists her first start in the women’s downhill, followed by entries in the super‑G and the new team combined event later in the Milan‑Cortina Games [2].
External resources (3 links)
- https://www.instagram.com/p/BtWBLQsnKXD/ (cited 1 times)
- https://www.instagram.com/p/DUI-ajQDTCc/ (cited 1 times)