Colorado’s Lindsey Vonn suffers major injury but will compete at the Olympics anyway

Colorado skiing legend Lindsey Vonn announced Tuesday she will compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics despite completely tearing her ACL in a World Cup crash less than a week ago.

“I know what my chances in these Olympics were before this crash, and even though my chances aren’t the same now, there is still a chance,” Vonn wrote on social media. “And as long as I have a chance, I will not lose hope. I will not give up! It’s not over yet!”

The 41-year-old Vail native crashed during a downhill race in Switzerland on Jan. 30, just days before the start of the Milan-Cortina Games. She revealed the full extent of the damage in her post: a completely torn ACL, bone bruising and meniscal tears in her left knee.

“This was obviously incredibly hard news to receive one week before the Olympics,” Vonn wrote. “I really appreciate everyone giving me time and space to process what happened and find a way forward.”

The three-time Olympic medalist said she skied Tuesday and determined she is capable of racing. Her training runs begin Thursday, ahead of the Olympic opening ceremony, and she is scheduled to compete in the women’s downhill on Sunday.

“After extensive consultations with doctors, intense therapy, physical tests as well as skiing today, I have determined I am capable of competing in the Olympic Downhill on Sunday,” Vonn wrote. “I am confident in my body’s ability to perform. Despite my injuries, my knee is stable, I do not have swelling and my muscles are firing and reacting as they should.”

Vonn, whose 84 World Cup victories rank second all-time behind only Colorado’s Mikaela Shiffrin, came out of retirement in 2024 after a partial knee replacement on her right knee allowed her to return to skiing pain-free. She had been forced to retire in 2019 due to chronic injuries.

“I retired in 2019 because my body said no more, not because I didn’t want to continue racing,” Vonn told USA TODAY Sports in October. “So I feel like this could be an incredible moment to end this chapter of my life and move forward in a really exciting and peaceful way.”

The U.S. Ski Team star plans to compete in the downhill, super-G and mixed team event at what would be her fifth Olympic Winter Games.

Vonn acknowledged she will continue daily evaluations with her medical team, but left no doubt about her intentions.

“I have every intention of competing on Sunday,” she wrote.

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