Lindsey Vonn, 41, reveals she WILL compete in Winter Olympics… despite being airlifted to hospital with a ruptured ACL four days ago
Lindsey Vonn has revealed she suffered ruptured knee ligaments in the horror crash that saw her airlifted to hospital four days ago – but insists she will push on with plans to compete in the Winter Olympics this month.
The 41-year-old American, who won downhill gold in 2010, confirmed the extent of the damage in a press conference on Thursday, disclosing she tore the ACL in her left knee during the smash in Switzerland last week.
Despite the severity of the injury, Vonn intends to line up in Cortina, Italy, with the Games due to formally open on Friday.
‘I know what my chances were before the crash and I know my chances aren’t the same as it stands today,’ said.
‘But I know there’s still a chance, and as long as there’s a chance, I will try.’
Vonn will compete in a knee brace, though it remains to be seen if that will offer sufficient support when the downhill skiing commences on Sunday.
Lindsey Vonn has confirmed she still intends to race for Team USA at the Winter Olympics
Vonn was airlifted to hospital just four days ago after rupturing her ACL in Switzerland
Vonn added: ‘We have been doing extensive therapy, consulting with doctors. Today I went skiing. I’m not crying. I’m going to do my best.
‘With the help of a knee brace, I’m confident I’ll be competing on Sunday.’
While her chances have been severely hampered, Vonn’s participation is no doubt a huge boost to organisers – her profile as a two-time world champion and three-time Olympic medallist substantially outweighs most of the athletes in Italy.
Vonn’s participation had already drawn intrigue, given her return to form after ending a five-year retirement in 2024.
Having first quit in 2019 after multiple injuries, Vonn won a World Cup event last December – the 83rd of her career and the first since 2018.
Vonn suffered the brutal crash that has thrown her Olympic preparations into chaos during her final Alpine World Cup event in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
The skiing great lost control after landing a jump on the course, before skidding into the safety netting and rupturing her left ACL in the process.
Just a week out from the Games, she took to social media shortly after being airlifted to hospital to defiantly insist that her Olympic dream was not over, saying: ‘If there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s a comeback.’
She outlined her plan to compete in her opening race on Sunday despite the horror knee injury
The skiing great will line up for Team USA with a knee brace in the women’s downhill event
Vonn is one of the most decorated skiiers of all time and embarking on an incredible return
Vonn is one of the most decorated skiiers of all time and embarking on an incredible return to the sport heading into the Olympics.
She had made a stunning comeback last season at age 40 after nearly six years away from ski racing.
Competing with a partial titanium implant in her right knee, Vonn has been the circuit’s leading downhiller this season with two victories and three other podium finishes in the five races.
Her first Olympic race is the women’s downhill on February 8. She was also planning on competing in the super-G and the new team combined event at the Games.
