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Lindsey Vonn is back-almost. The legendary skier is keeping her promise to participate in the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games, despite tearing her ACL just a week ago. On Friday, Vonn returned to the slopes for practice ahead of Sunday's Olympic downhill race.
In 2024, after undergoing knee reconstruction and spending five years away from competition, Vonn announced her comeback to compete in her fifth Olympic Games.
But fate intervened. Just one week before the Opening Ceremony, Vonn suffered a serious crash during the downhill World Cup event in Crans-Montana, Switzerland.
The fall left her with bone bruises, meniscus damage, and, most devastating of all, a torn ACL that seemed to end her Olympic bid. Yet Vonn refused to give up.
Vonn's spectacular return to the slopes
On Saturday, the 41-year-old skier took part in the women's Olympic downhill practice, recording the third-fastest time of the session.
Her compatriot Breezy Johnson led the standings, followed by Germany's Kira Weidle-Winkelmann and Vonn. These were the five fastest competitors in the third practice:
- Pl. Name - Time - Time Dif.
- 1. Breezy Johnson - 1:37.91 -
- 2. Kira Weidle-Winkelman - 1:38.12 - +0.21
- 3. Lindsey Vonn - 1:38.28 - +0.37
- 4. Ariane Readler - 1:38.34 - +0.43
- 5. Emma Aicher - 1:38.75 - +0.84
Starting 15th, Vonn's run was steady despite a couple of stumbles. Practice was later suspended due to bad weather after the 23rd competitor, with those in position 24 and beyond listed as nonstarters.
It's worth noting that practice times can be deceptive, as many skiers take cautious runs to test the slope.
Vonn keeps quiet, Coach speaks out
Despite persistent media questions, the 2010 Vancouver Olympic champion offered only a brief response: "Good."
Her coach, Norwegian Aksel Lund Svindal, provided more insight:
"It was important to get on the snow today because it was a very different run."
He added that Vonn was calm before the practice but acknowledged that she will need to push harder on Sunday if she hopes to complete another comeback, one that would be nothing short of miraculous.