Vonn is a victim of ACL rupture and will compete in Olympics.

Vonn is a victim of ACL rupture and will compete in Olympics.

The Olympic bid of Lindsey Vonn has had a lot of drama but the American icon is determined to fight until the end.

The 41-year-old has verified that she tore her left knee ACL in an accident at the World Cup downhill last week in Switzerland, which left her airlifted to the hospital days before the Winter Olympics. Notwithstanding the setback, Vonn is still hoping that she would be able to participate in Sunday in the women downhill in Cortina.

Vonn reports that her knee is stable and pain-free, and does not show any swelling and she believes she can still compete in Italy.

This is not what I toiled so much to get, I said. I know the crash altered the situation, but I will give it a push in case there is a crack of an opening.

Her accident arrives at the most inopportune time. After retirement in late 2024, followed by a partial replacement of her right knee, vonn was having an incredible resurgence back into the sport after leaving it five years earlier. She came to Cortina with a strong lead in the World Cup downhill overall as she had already won two and three other podiums, and she was a sure bet to win a gold medal.

It would be a feat nowadays to get to the starting gate.

I have gone through this before, Vonn said. I do not want to end up going after a wasted opportunity. I will give it all to get on that starting line.

Vonn skied on snow in Cortina earlier this week and reported to have no pain but she said she would actually feel the pain when she hits the downhill course at full speed. Besides the tear in her ACL, she is also treating bruising and meniscus injuries caused by the crash in Crans-Montana where several falls eventually caused the authorities to cancel the race because of the bad weather.

She will cheque her condition day by day and is still not convinced whether she will be healthy enough to compete in the Super-G or team events further on in the Olympics.

Vonn has sustained injuries all through her career and she has not been deterred.

I did not even dream that it would be possible to be here, said she. “This is all a bonus. I wish to complete this trip without regrets. I stand on my tippy toes and I will take whatever transpires.

Physiotherapist Ben Warburton pointed to the dangers of the situation, as he said: no without a healthy ACL, the other ligaments and muscles in the knee are forced to do more than they would otherwise, which is a very big worry at downhill speeds up to 85mph.

However, Chemmy Alcott, a former Olympic skier, feels that Vonn is a special case because of the way she thinks.

This would be inconceivable to most athletes, as Alcott explained. “But Lindsey is different. She is pursuing a gold that comes once in a lifetime in a track where she has been having massive success. Her psychological power is remarkable, and such faith might be the distinction.

Whether she ends up racing or not, it has been the spirit of perseverance that has seen Vonn continue to be one of the most ruthless and strong personalities of alpine skiing.