American skier Lindsey Vonn is convinced that despite seriously knee injury from last week, she will be able to race at the Olympics.
The 2010 Olympic champion announced at a press conference on Tuesday that she tore her ACL in a fall in the Crans Montana downhill on Friday. However, he believes that he can handle the start in Sunday’s downhill race.
After returning to racing, Vonn has been in excellent form this season. But four days ago, the dream of an Olympic start suffered serious cracks.
After the fall in Switzerland, in addition to a torn ligament, she also has a bruised bone and a damaged meniscus. After consultations with doctors and three days of physiotherapy, on Tuesday she tried to put weight on her knee while skiing with an orthosis.
VIDEO: Lindsey Vonn’s crash at Crans Montana 2026
“It looks stable, it looks solid,” Vonn said, adding that she believes she can still race with the injury.
“I will do everything in my power to get to the start,” said the leading female World Cup downhill scorer, who returned to racing in 2024 with a titanium implant in her right knee.
The opening training for Sunday’s Olympic convention is scheduled for Thursday in Italy. Vonnová then planned to start in the super giant slalom and in the team competition under the five rings.
Above all, the two-time world champion was among the main contenders for gold in the downhill. In this season of the World Cup, she placed on the podium every time and won twice.
“Obviously, this is not what I was hoping for. I’ve been working really hard to go into these Games in a completely different position,” said Vonn, who suffered a similar injury shortly before the 2014 Olympics and the start in Sochi.
“I know what my chances were before that fall, and I know they’re not the same today, but I know they’re still here. And as long as there’s a chance, I’m going to try,” Vonn said.
The women’s five-ring ski race will be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where Vonn holds the SP record with 12 victories.
She has won three Olympic medals so far – gold in downhill and bronze in super-G in 2010 in Vancouver and bronze in downhill in 2018 in Pyeongchang.
