Lindsey Vonn Returns to the Slopes After Knee Injury

In Milan, American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn undertook her first training session on Friday following a rupture of her ACL in her left knee. The event was marked by her upbeat demeanor at the end of a successful 100-second run. Completing the course in Cortina was a significant milestone in her journey to achieve a medal, despite the injury setback.

Vonn had suffered the injury a week earlier at a World Cup race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. She lost control while tackling a jump and was attempting to brace for a right-hand turn. This injury was to a different knee than the one which had previously required extensive surgery—a factor leading to her retirement in 2019 before she made a return to the sport last year.

Friday’s training was delayed by over an hour due to poor visibility conditions in Cortina. Expressing her optimism, Vonn shared with reporters this week in Cortina, Italy, that her recovery involved “extensive therapy” since the ligament rupture. She stated, “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.”

Prior to her injury last Friday, Vonn, at 41 years old, returned to competition with remarkable consistency in terms of health after a career characterized by frequent injuries. With two victories on the World Cup circuit in the past month, she has become a serious contender for medals in Cortina, a venue she affectionately refers to as her favorite course.