Lindsey Vonn was the talk of the town in Milan, having engineered a remarkable comeback just a week after tearing her ACL. Doubts were raised over whether her fitness would hold up, given the severity of the injury. Some also questioned whether it was wise to compete on an ACL tear. But these are the Olympics, and Vonn’s resolve was set in stone.
After two training runs, it was clear that Vonn had the belief that she could go all the way, turning in a time of 1:40.33 pace on her first training run, 1.39 seconds behind American teammate Jacqueline Wiles.
But when she suited up for the main event, her dream of medaling in the sport was dashed in all of 13 seconds, in what was an agonizing end to a spirited comeback.
IOC Sports Director Speaks on Lindsey Vonn’s Injury
Sky News reporter Rob Harris posed the question to Pierre Ducrey, Sports Director of the International Olympic Committee, regarding whether Vonn made the right choice in competing in the Downhill on an ACL tear.
“She was able to train and made the choice with the excellent team that she has, to take part,” Ducrey said. “This decision was really hers and her team’s to take. She made the decision, and unfortunately, it led to the injury.”
IOC Sports Director Pierre Ducrey on if Lindsey Vonn should have competed: “She was able to train and made the choice with the excellent team that she has to take part…this decision was really hers & her team to take. She made the decision & unfortunately it led to the injury” https://t.co/jzq6f6bygc
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) February 9, 2026
At 41, Vonn was competing on a rebuilt right knee and a badly damaged left knee. On Sunday, her bid to medal in the Winter Olympic downhill ended in anguish after she broke her leg.
The U.S. Alpine skiing superstar lost control 13 seconds into her run, pinwheeling down the slope and landing on her back. She was then treated at the finish line and helicoptered to a clinic in Cortina. From there, Vonn was transferred to a hospital in Treviso.
“Lindsey Vonn underwent orthopaedic surgery to stabilise a fracture in her left leg,” the Ca’ Foncello Hospital said in a statement.
Vonn’s teammate Breezy Johnson ended up winning the women’s downhill race, putting Team USA on the board at the Games. Johnson became Team USA’s first champion in the event since Vonn herself took the plaudits 16 years ago at the 2010 Games in Vancouver.
