Lindsey Vonn Defies Injury To Pursue Olympic Comeback In Cortina

Lindsey Vonn, the legendary American alpine skier, is once again defying the odds. At 41, and after a five-year retirement, Vonn stunned the sports world this week by confirming she will compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, despite suffering a devastating injury just days ago. The news comes on the heels of a harrowing crash during a World Cup downhill race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on January 31, 2026, where Vonn ruptured her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), sustained bone bruising, and possibly incurred additional meniscal damage.

For most athletes, such an injury would be a career-ending event—especially so close to the Olympics. But Vonn, who has built her legacy on resilience and grit, is determined to race, even if her medal chances have taken a hit. "I had a feeling it was bad, but I held out hope until I saw the MRI in front of me," Vonn told reporters at a press conference in Cortina d’Ampezzo on Tuesday. "But I haven’t cried. I haven’t deviated from my plan. Normally, in the past, there’s always a moment where you break down and you realize the severity of things and that your dreams are slipping through your fingers. But I didn’t have that this time. I’m not letting this slip through my fingers. I’m gonna do it. End of story."

Vonn’s injury occurred as she lost control coming off a jump, crashed into the safety netting, and was seen favoring her left leg. She managed to ski down the slope before being airlifted to a hospital for further evaluation. The race was canceled after her crash, which had been preceded by two other competitors going down on the same tricky course. Visibility and bumpy conditions were cited as contributing factors.

Despite the setback, Vonn wasted no time getting back on her skis. She tested her injured knee before Tuesday’s briefing and reported feeling stable, though she admitted she hasn’t attempted a full-speed run yet. She plans to wear a brace for the women’s downhill event scheduled for Sunday, February 8, and is also eyeing the new team combined event and possibly the super-G, pending how her knee holds up. "I know what my chances were before the crash and I know my chances aren’t the same as it stands today," Vonn said with a mix of realism and resolve. "But I know there’s still a chance, and as long as there’s a chance, I will try."

Medical experts warn that Vonn’s challenge is immense. NBC News medical contributor Dr. John Torres explained, “That ACL is extremely important to keeping that knee stable, and keeping that knee stable is extremely important to her sport.” He added that skiing with a torn ACL could lead to further injury, as the brace will force her knee to absorb even more stress, potentially affecting her ability to handle turns at high speed. "That’s going to throw off how she takes the curves, how she takes the turns. If her skiing mechanisms are off, that can throw her off enough to make her slip, make her slide, make her fall again. That’s the concern."

Vonn, however, is no stranger to pain and adversity. Her career has been punctuated by injuries: multiple ligament tears, fractures, and even a partial knee replacement in April 2024. She retired in February 2019, convinced her body had reached its limit, but the allure of the Olympics in Cortina—where she holds the record for 12 World Cup wins and earned her first podium—proved too strong. She launched a remarkable comeback in November 2024, inspired in part by the memory of her longtime coach Erich Sailer, who passed away last year at age 99. "He would say, 'It’s only 90 seconds. What’s 90 seconds in a lifetime? It’s nothing, you can do it,'" Vonn shared, reflecting on what Sailer might advise now.

Her results since returning have been nothing short of sensational. Vonn has claimed two World Cup victories and five podium finishes this season, putting her atop the FIS downhill standings, 144 points ahead of her closest rival, Emma Aicher. She now has 84 career World Cup wins, the third-most all-time, and remains the winningest woman in skiing history until recently surpassed by Mikaela Shiffrin. Her Olympic resume is equally impressive: gold in the downhill and bronze in the super-G at Vancouver 2010, and another bronze in the downhill at PyeongChang 2018.

Yet, Vonn is acutely aware of the risks. "Because I push the limits, I crash. And I have been injured more times than I would like to admit to myself, but those are the cards that I’ve been dealt in my life," she admitted. "Nothing is perfect in life, and that’s just where I seem to always be." Still, her confidence is unwavering. "This isn’t my first rodeo. It’s hard for me to lose faith in myself and what I know I’m capable of. I know my body very well. I have a high degree of confidence in myself, and it doesn’t matter to me if everyone thinks maybe I can’t do this with no ACL, but I still believe in myself and that makes me smile. That makes me confident, that makes me happy."

The Olympic schedule is demanding: training runs for the women’s downhill are set for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, leading up to Sunday’s main event. The team combined event follows on February 10, with the super-G slated for February 12. Vonn has not committed to the latter events, saying she will make her decision based on her knee’s performance in the downhill. "I have to see how it feels. If it’s stable and I feel confident, I’ll continue to race. That is my goal, obviously, but I can’t tell you that answer until I actually ski 80 mph and then I’ll tell you," she said with a wry smile.

Her journey has captivated fans and fellow athletes alike. Nearly seven years after her initial retirement, Vonn’s comeback is being hailed as one of the most remarkable stories leading into these Games. Her presence in Cortina is especially poignant, given her deep connection to the venue and her stated belief that she wouldn’t have attempted this return had the Olympics been held anywhere else. "For me there’s something special about Cortina that always pulls me back and it’s pulled me back one last time," she said previously.

As the world waits to see if Vonn can pull off another miracle on the slopes, one thing is certain: her spirit and determination remain unbreakable. Training runs will reveal more about her readiness, but for now, Vonn is focused on doing everything in her power to make it to that starting gate. "I’m still here. I’m still able to fight. I’m still able to try," she declared. Whether or not she stands on the podium, Lindsey Vonn’s latest chapter is already an inspiring testament to perseverance in the face of adversity.