Lindsey Vonn to race in Olympics despite ACL injury
Lindsey Vonn to race in Olympics despite ACL injury
Published : 04-Feb-2026 10:09
US skier Lindsey Vonn has confirmed that she plans to compete at the Winter Olympics despite tearing her ACL last Friday.
The 41-year-old, a four-time overall World Cup champion and Olympic gold medallist, revealed that she will continue to race while managing the injury, following extensive consultation with medical specialists.
Vonn has already been skiing with the ACL tear, opting against immediate surgery in order to maintain her Olympic ambitions. Yesterday she shared a photo of her skiing in Cortina, Italy – venue for the Women's Downhill.
Speaking about the decision, Vonn described the injury as "manageable, but acknowledged the risks involved.
Vonn retired from competitive skiing in 2019 after a career full of injuries, including fractures and ligament damage, but has been very successful since her return to racing.
Medical experts have noted that skiing without an intact ACL is possible, particularly for experienced athletes with strong muscular support around the knee, though the approach carries increased risk of further damage.
Vonn's team – including coach Aksel Lund Svindal - has stressed that her training and race schedule will be closely monitored, with decisions taken on a race-by-race basis.
Vonn remains one of the most successful alpine skiers of all time, with 84 World Cup victories and three Olympic medals - one gold (Downhill 2010), two bronzes (Super-G 2010, downhill, 2018).
Join the conversation : Discuss this in the J2Ski Forum
This news item has been viewed 894 times.
Also on J2Ski :- Cortina d'Ampezzo Snow Forecast Ski Hotels Ski Hire Ski Holidays