© Denis Balibouse/Imagn
Legendary downhill skier Lindsey Vonn promised fans that she would let a Torn ACL get in the way of a historic comeback at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Now, she’s making good on that promise.
Vonn, 41, is one of the accomplished women’s skiers of all time, with an Olympic gold medal, two world championships, and 84 World Cup victories to her name.
However, persistent injuries forced Vonn into an early retirement in 2019. After a total knee replacement, Vonn attempted to make a comeback in 2024 and picked up her first World Cup victory since that comeback in the downhill on Dec. 12, 2025 St. Moritz, Switzerland.
Vonn then won again on Jan. 10 in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria, and appeared to be heading into the Olympics as a genuine threat to medal, if not win.
However, tragedy struck again just a week ago when Vonn suffered a crash in her final tune-up event for the Olympics, tearing her ACL in the process. Vonn was airlifted to the hospital, and the competition was eventually called off due to unsafe conditions.
In an Instagram post addressing the crash, Vonn vowed to not give up on her dream of an Olympic comeback.
“My Olympic dream is not over. Thank you for all of the love and support. I will give more information when I have it. Thank you to all the medical staff who helped me today. I am grateful for all the incredible help I received,” she wrote.
Now it appears she’s following through on that vow.
Lindsey Vonn Shares Incredible Rehab Video Days Before Olympic Competition
When flying down a mountain at 80 miles per hour and making sharp turns, your ACL is vitally important to provide strength and stability.
Vonn, however, is trying to prove that it’s not entirely necessary.
“I’ve been in this position before,” she said on Tuesday. “I know how to handle it. I’ve been on the world stage before. I know how to handle that.”
Vonn is scheduled to compete on Sunday, February 8, 2026. And if her latest Instagram post is any indication, she’ll do just that.
The video shows Vonn going through an intense lower body workout despite a massive brace on her torn left knee.
“I’m not giving up. Working as hard as I can to make it happen!” the caption reads. “Thank you to my team and everyone for your incredible support. Keep believing.”
After watching that, I’m not sure why anyone wouldn’t believe in Vonn at this point.