Lindsey Vonn said Tuesday she still plans to race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee during a crash last week. The 41-year-old told reporters she will attempt to compete despite acknowledging that her chances of reaching the podium are reduced. She had skied earlier in the day and said she was grateful to be able to try.
Doctors also found bone bruising, which commonly accompanies ACL tears, and some meniscal damage; medical staff are unsure whether the meniscal issue was pre-existing or resulted from the crash. Vonn said she suspected the injury was serious but waited for MRI confirmation. She added that she has not let the diagnosis derail her plan, and remains determined to pursue her Olympic goals.
Vonn is entered in the women’s downhill on Sunday, Feb. 8, and plans to wear a brace for that race. She had also intended to contest the super-G and the new team combined event. If she wins a medal, she would become the oldest alpine skier to earn an Olympic medal. Vonn already has three Olympic medals: gold in the downhill and bronze in the super-G from 2010, and bronze in the downhill from 2018.
The injury occurred when Vonn lost control after a jump during a World Cup race last Friday, ending up tangled in safety nets on the upper section of the course. She walked away from the scene but was seen avoiding putting weight on her left leg, and on Tuesday confirmed that the injury is to that knee. Two other racers also crashed on the same course earlier that day; organizers canceled the race afterward, with at least one competitor citing poor visibility and a bumpy track.
This season Vonn has been the circuit’s leading downhiller, with two wins and three podium finishes. Her Olympic comeback follows a five-year retirement; she skis with titanium implants in her right knee. After the accident she posted on Instagram that her ‘Olympic dream is not over’ and repeated that sentiment at the briefing, emphasizing her confidence and refusal to give up despite competing without an ACL.
The women’s alpine events at the 2026 Games will be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where Vonn has been especially successful, holding a record 12 World Cup victories.