Lindsey Vonn confirmed that she will attempt to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics despite sustaining a "completely ruptured ACL" in her left knee last week at a World Cup downhill event. The 41-year-old spoke in length to reporters on Tuesday at the Cortina Curling Stadium, detailing the crash in Crans Montana, Switzerland, and subsequent diagnosis.
"I also have bone bruising, which is a common injury when you tear your ACL, plus some meniscal damage," she revealed. "We're not sure if that was pre-existing or from the crash.
"We have been doing extensive therapy. I've been consulting with doctors, been in the gym, and today I went skiing.
"Considering how my knee feels, I feel stable, I feel strong. My knee is not swollen, and with the help of a knee brace, I am confident that I can compete on Sunday."
She continued:
"I know what my chances were before the crash, and I know my chances aren't the same as it stands today, but I know there's still a chance and as long as there's a chance, I will try."
Vonn's is scheduled to hit the slopes on Thursday, Feb. 5, for the first official women's downhill training, which streams on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com at 5:30 a.m. ET. How she feels afterward will play a significant role in her status for the Games themselves. That said, competing in Bormio, a place she's called "home," is in her plans.
Friday's tumble in Crans Montana happened so quickly that the live broadcast didn’t capture it in real time. Vonn burst out of the starting gates and when the camera cut to the next frame, she noticeably was absent.
Confounded, play-by-play commentator Nick Fellows spoke for viewers by wondering aloud, “Where is Vonn?”
"Where is Vonn?!” he repeated in an exasperated tone.
Moments later, a new camera angle showed the St. Paul, Minnesota native sprawled out in the course netting. A hush fell over the crowd. Medical professionals rushed to her aid. Vonn barely moved for several minutes.
However, she rose to her feet and gingerly shuffled around the area, trying to put weight on her left leg. She grimaced in pain. And yet, true to her grit and resilience — her Mamba Mentality — Vonn elected to ski slowly down the mountain.
She was met at the bottom by U.S. Ski teammate and then-race leader Jacqueline Wiles, who gave her a hug. Vonn headed into the medical tent to be evaluated and eventually was airlifted off the piste.
Out of the six athletes who left skied in Crans Montana, three fell, with Vonn's spill causing a race interruption, and ultimately, a cancellation.
The nightmare of all nightmares appeared to be unfolding before our eyes. The world held its collective breath.
Vonn took to social media later that day to provide an update:
"I crashed today in the downhill race in Switzerland and injured my left knee. I am discussing the situation with my doctors and team and will continue to undergo further exams," she said.
"This is a very difficult outcome one week before the Olympics… but if there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s a comeback.
"My Olympic dream is not over. Thank you for all of the love and support. I will give more information when I have it."
On Saturday, before the women’s super-G in Crans Montana, Vonn posted a video of the crash on Instagram and captioned it:
“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to race today… wishing all my teammates a great race
Thank you for all of the love and support I have received. Means the world to me.
Doing my best right now….”
Another couple of days went by and she shared a story on Instagram that contained a photo of the grave site of her former coach, the late Erich Sailer, and the note:
“I know exactly what he would say… Just wish he was here to say it.”
The situation appeared bleak.
Vonn was forced to retire from the sport in 2019 due to chronic arthritis in her right knee. She struggled not only to ski, but also to do basic activities.
In an interview, she recounted to Outside’s Sierra Shafer the difficulty she’d had on a hike. “It’s kind of crazy that I [couldn’t] do a 20-minute walk with a six-year-old.”
In an effort to alleviate the pain, she underwent a robot-assisted right knee replacement surgery in 2023, which involved the removal of impacted bone tissue and the insertion of a plastic meniscus, along with titanium pieces.
The operation was life changing… and career reigniting.
Vonn’s fire to hit the slopes returned, and in 2024, she decided to make a comeback to professional ski racing with the express goal of competing at one final Winter Olympics. In a place near and dear to her heart: the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
It’s the venue where she reached her first-career World Cup podium in 2004, broke the then all-time record for Cup victories and has won the most Cup events of any Alpine skier in history (12).
Vonn struggled to find consistency during the 2024-25 Cup season, although she did make a podium in the campaign’s finale in Sun Valley.
When 2025-26 rolled around, she went gangbusters from the opening race, securing a victory in St. Moritz, and posting six podium finishes in her next seven contests.
The Crans Montana crash stopped her in her snowy tracks. Knocked her down onto the frigid ground. At perhaps the worst possible time.
Now she’s back up on her skis and she’ll attempt to achieve her gold medal dreams. Again.
Catch the Winter Olympics on Sunday, Feb. 8, for the downhill event. It will stream live at 5:30 a.m. ET on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com.