CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Lindsey Vonn is “confident” that she can participate in the Winter Olympics Milan Cortina starts this week despite the left knee injury she suffered in a crash four days ago.
Vonn said Tuesday that she “completely tore” her ACL and has bone bruises “plus meniscal damage.”
But after three days of physical therapy and consultation with doctors, Vonn went skiing on Tuesday with a brace on her knee.
“It feels stable, it feels strong,” she said, adding that she felt “confident” to race.
“I will do everything I can to be in the starting gate.”
Vonn crashed during a descent in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Friday and ended up in the safety nets. After skiing to the bottom of the course, she was airlifted for medical attention.
Vonn, a 41-year-old American, was expected to be one of the biggest stars of the Winter Games, which start with the opening ceremony on Friday. Her first competition follows two days later in the women’s descent on Sunday. Then Vonn also planned to compete in super-G and the combined event for the new team.
The opening training for the downhill ladies is scheduled for Thursday.
Vonn made a stunning comeback last season at the age of 40, after nearly six years away from ski racing. She skis with a partial titanium implant in her right knee and was the leading downhiller on the circuit this season with two wins and three other podium finishes in five races.
Including super-G, Vonn completed eight World Championship races and finished on the podium in seven of them. Her worst finish was fourth place.
The women’s skiing at the Games will take place in Cortina, where Vonn holds the World Cup record with 12 victories.
Vonn has won three Olympic medals: gold in downhill and bronze in super-G in 2010 and bronze in downhill in 2018.
Olympic Games AP: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
