NEED TO KNOW
- Lindsey Vonn announced she ruptured her ACL in her crash on Friday, but will still compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics
- “I’m still able to fight,” the three-time Olympic medalist said at a press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 3
- Vonn said she plans to compete in downhill, and will reevaluate after if she can take part in the Super-G event
Lindsey Vonn’s “Olympic dream” is not over!
The skiing star said Tuesday, Feb. 3 that she will still compete in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, despite “completely” rupturing her ACL last week at a World Cup race in Switzerland.
Vonn shared the news of her injury in a press conference, telling media that she is currently “not in pain,” despite the rupture.
“It was painful initially after the crash,” the 41-year-old said. “I had a feeling it was bad, but I held out hope until I saw the MRI in front of me. But I have not cried, I have not deviated from my plan.”
Vonn said she plans to test her knee in practice the next few days, and will be competing in the downhill event on Sunday. She will then reevaluate to determine if she can take part in the Super-G event next Thursday.
“I think I’m still able to fight, and I will do everything in my power to be in that starting gate,” she said.
The news comes amid Vonn’s run to become the oldest Alpine skier in Olympic history at the age of 41.
On Friday, Jan. 30, the three-time Olympic medalist sustained an injury to her knee when she crashed in low visibility conditions during a downhill race in Crans Montana, Switzerland.
Hours after she was airlifted from the mountain for treatment, Vonn gave an update on her condition, but did not share whether she would be able to compete in Cortina.
“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,” Vonn, 41, posted an update about the situation on Instagram. “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.”
The Olympic gold medalist continued, “My Olympic dream is not over. Thank you for all of the love and support. I will give more information when I have it. Thank you to all the medical staff who helped me today. I am grateful for all the incredible help I received.”
For Vonn, coming back amid years of injuries — including a partial titanium knee replacement in 2024 — was seemingly always in the cards.
“My body was so different,” she told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview last month. “I didn’t have any pain at all; my knee didn’t swell. I felt like I could do anything. The thought of ski racing again, something I loved to do so much, but without pain, was really exciting.”
Vonn’s comeback after years away from competition is about finishing her career on her own terms, she said.
“I built an amazing life and was really happy in retirement,” she said about her focus on philanthropy. “But I didn’t finish my career the way I wanted to. I was limping away when I wanted to finish strong.”
On Tuesday, Vonn said if she medals it would be an incredible capper to her career.
“I think this would be the best comeback I’ve done so far. Definitely the most dramatic, that’s for sure.”
To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, come to people.com to check out ongoing coverage before, during and after the games. Watch the Milan Cortina Olympics and Paralympics, beginning Feb. 6, on NBC and Peacock.
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