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Lindsey Vonn Completes Training Run and Prepares for Feb 8 Olympic Downhill

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  • Lindsey Vonn of Team United States inspects the course during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women’s Downhill on January 30, 2026 in Crans Montana, Switzerland. (Photo by Millo Moravski/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
    Lindsey Vonn of Team United States inspects the course during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women’s Downhill on January 30, 2026 in Crans Montana, Switzerland. (Photo by Millo Moravski/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    Lindsey Vonn of Team United States inspects the course during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women’s Downhill on January 30, 2026 in Crans Montana, Switzerland. (Photo by Millo Moravski/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) Source Full size
  • Image caption, Vonn is entered in the downhill, super-G and the team combined event
    Image caption, Vonn is entered in the downhill, super-G and the team combined event
    Image: BBC
    Image caption, Vonn is entered in the downhill, super-G and the team combined event Source Full size
  • None
    None
    Image: AP
    Source Full size
  • United States' Lindsey Vonn attends a press conference by the U.S. ski team at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 3, 2026.
    United States' Lindsey Vonn attends a press conference by the U.S. ski team at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 3, 2026.
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    United States' Lindsey Vonn attends a press conference by the U.S. ski team at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 3, 2026. (Credit: AP) Source Full size
  • None
    None
    Image: AP
    Source Full size
  • Lindsey Vonn at the finish area after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026.
    Lindsey Vonn at the finish area after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026.
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    Lindsey Vonn at the finish area after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026. (Credit: (Alessandro Della Valle/Keystone via AP)) Source Full size
  • Image caption, Vonn will have a short recovery time ahead of the Winter Olympics next week
    Image caption, Vonn will have a short recovery time ahead of the Winter Olympics next week
    Image: BBC
    Image caption, Vonn will have a short recovery time ahead of the Winter Olympics next week Source Full size
  • Lindsey Vonn holds her left knee after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026.
    Lindsey Vonn holds her left knee after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026.
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    Lindsey Vonn holds her left knee after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026. (Credit: Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP) Source Full size
  • Lindsey Vonn is 'confident' she can race at Olympics despite ruptured ACL in left knee
    Lindsey Vonn is 'confident' she can race at Olympics despite ruptured ACL in left knee
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    Lindsey Vonn is 'confident' she can race at Olympics despite ruptured ACL in left knee (Credit: via ap) Source Full size
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    Image: AP
    Source Full size
  • Image caption, Vonn is entered in the downhill, super-G and the team combined event
    Image caption, Vonn is entered in the downhill, super-G and the team combined event
    Image: BBC
    Image caption, Vonn is entered in the downhill, super-G and the team combined event Source Full size
  • Image caption, Vonn will have a short recovery time ahead of the Winter Olympics next week
    Image caption, Vonn will have a short recovery time ahead of the Winter Olympics next week
    Image: BBC
    Image caption, Vonn will have a short recovery time ahead of the Winter Olympics next week Source Full size
  • Lindsey Vonn of Team United States inspects the course during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women’s Downhill on January 30, 2026 in Crans Montana, Switzerland. (Photo by Millo Moravski/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
    Lindsey Vonn of Team United States inspects the course during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women’s Downhill on January 30, 2026 in Crans Montana, Switzerland. (Photo by Millo Moravski/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
    Image: Newsweek
    Lindsey Vonn of Team United States inspects the course during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women’s Downhill on January 30, 2026 in Crans Montana, Switzerland. (Photo by Millo Moravski/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) Source Full size
  • None
    None
    Image: AP
    Source Full size
  • None
    None
    Image: AP
    Source Full size
  • None
    None
    Image: AP
    Source Full size
  • United States' Lindsey Vonn attends a press conference by the U.S. ski team at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 3, 2026.
    United States' Lindsey Vonn attends a press conference by the U.S. ski team at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 3, 2026.
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    United States' Lindsey Vonn attends a press conference by the U.S. ski team at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Feb. 3, 2026. (Credit: AP) Source Full size
  • Lindsey Vonn at the finish area after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026.
    Lindsey Vonn at the finish area after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026.
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    Lindsey Vonn at the finish area after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026. (Credit: (Alessandro Della Valle/Keystone via AP)) Source Full size
  • Lindsey Vonn holds her left knee after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026.
    Lindsey Vonn holds her left knee after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026.
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    Lindsey Vonn holds her left knee after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026. (Credit: Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP) Source Full size
  • Lindsey Vonn is 'confident' she can race at Olympics despite ruptured ACL in left knee
    Lindsey Vonn is 'confident' she can race at Olympics despite ruptured ACL in left knee
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    Lindsey Vonn is 'confident' she can race at Olympics despite ruptured ACL in left knee (Credit: via ap) Source Full size
  • Lindsey Vonn holds her left knee after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026.
    Lindsey Vonn holds her left knee after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026.
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    Lindsey Vonn holds her left knee after crashing, during an alpine ski, women’s World Cup downhill, in Crans Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30, 2026. (Credit: Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP) Source Full size

Injury Details Confirmed Across Reports On Jan 30, Vonn crashed in the Crans‑Montana World Cup downhill, fully rupturing her left anterior cruciate ligament, sustaining bone bruising and meniscal damage, and was air‑lifted to a Swiss hospital for evaluation [11][14][16]. She is 41 and already carries a 2024 partial titanium knee implant in her right leg, marking her third ACL tear and a long history of serious injuries [1][4][5].

Vonn Declares Olympic Intent and Shows Early Recovery Within days she posted an Instagram Reel of a leg‑strength workout while wearing a brace, stating she will not give up on the Games [2][9]. At a press conference she described the injured knee as “stable, strong and not swollen,” expressing confidence in the brace for the upcoming downhill [2][10][6].

Coach and Medical Opinions Diverge on Risk Head coach Chris Knight said he has “no doubts” about Vonn’s ability to start the downhill, calling her condition “OK” and emphasizing daily improvement [3][4]. Sports‑medicine specialists, however, warned that competing with a ruptured ACL and a brace is “extraordinarily difficult” and could cause catastrophic knee damage [2][6][6].

Training Run Completed on Feb 6, Race Set for Feb 8 Vonn successfully completed a downhill training run at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre on Friday, Feb 6, showing no apparent trouble despite heavy snowfall that had cancelled the previous session [1][2]. The women’s Olympic downhill is scheduled for Sunday, Feb 8, and Vonn plans to use the run to qualify for the start [1][3][7].

Event Participation Plans Remain Broad Vonn intends to enter the downhill, super‑G, and the new team combined event, aiming for a possible fifth Olympic appearance and hoping to add to her three Olympic medals [7][8][10][14].

Sources

Timeline

2010 – Lindsey Vonn wins the Olympic downhill gold in Vancouver, marking the start of her storied Olympic career. [22]

2019 – Vonn retires from competitive skiing after amassing 82 World Cup victories, citing her body’s limits. [22]

Dec 2024 – Vonn undergoes a partial knee replacement on her right knee and returns to competition, later racing with a titanium implant. [2][4][5]

Dec 12, 2025 – Vonn leads the World Cup downhill at St. Moritz with a 1.16‑second advantage, hitting 119 kph and cementing her lead in the season standings. [14]

Dec 13, 2025 – She finishes second in the St. Moritz downhill, 0.24 s behind Emma Aicher, after a brief slip on a mid‑run jump. [13]

Dec 15, 2025 – Vonn wins the opening downhill by 0.98 s, becoming the oldest World Cup winner in history (men or women). [12]

Dec 23, 2025 – Vonn secures a spot on the U.S. team, officially qualifying for her fifth Olympic appearance in Cortina d’Ampezzo. [18]

Jan 29, 2026 – Vonn confirms she will race the women’s downhill at the 2026 Olympics, noting her age gives her a competitive advantage. [22]

Jan 30, 2026 – Vonn crashes in the pre‑Olympic World Cup downhill at Crans‑Montana, tears her left ACL, and is airlifted to a hospital; the race is cancelled due to the incident and poor visibility. [3][21]

Jan 30, 2026 – She posts on Instagram, “my Olympic dream is not over,” expressing determination to recover before the Games. [21]

Feb 3, 2026 – Vonn tells reporters her knee feels stable, says “I feel happy and confident,” and vows to attempt the downhill if medically cleared. [7]

Feb 4, 2026 – Vonn declares she will race despite a fully ruptured ACL, stating “I will not let this slip through my fingers.” [5]

Feb 4, 2026 – Head coach Chris Knight says he has “no doubts” that Vonn can compete in the Sunday downhill. [8]

Feb 5, 2026 – Vonn completes a training run at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre without apparent trouble, positioning herself for the Olympic race. [4]

Feb 6, 2026 – Vonn shares a leg‑workout video, saying “I’m not giving up… Thank you to my team,” and confirms a training run scheduled for that day ahead of the Feb 8 downhill. [15]

Feb 6, 2026 – The Milan‑Cortina Winter Games open, featuring 2,900 athletes, the debut of ski mountaineering, and the return of NHL players after a decade‑long absence. [1]

Feb 8, 2026 – The women’s downhill is set to take place in Cortina d’Ampezzo; Vonn aims to start what could be her final Olympic downhill run. [1]

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