Lindsey Vonn will ski in 2026 Winter Olympics despite ACL injury days before

CORTINA, Italy — Team USA Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn announced Tuesday she will ski in the 2026 Winter Olympics despite an injury she sustained Friday in Switzerland.

Vonn’s fall on Friday followed two other skiers who crashed in the Wold Cup race in Crans-Montana. Vonn lost control while landing a jump during difficult weather conditions with low visibility. The race was canceled after Vonn’s crash.

It wasn’t revealed until Tuesday’s press conference that Vonn had “completely ruptured” her ACL.

“I also have bone bruising, which is a common injury when you tear your ACL. Plus meniscal damage, which we’re not sure if that was preexisting or if that was from the crash,” Vonn said. “But we’ve been doing extensive therapy and consulting with doctors and in the gym. And today I went skiing.”

Vonn said her knee was feeling stable, wasn’t swollen and she felt confident she can compete on Sunday.

“This is not obviously what I had hoped for. I’ve been working really hard to come to these games in a much different position,” she said. “I knew what my chances were before the crash and I know my chances aren’t the same as it stands today, but I know there’s still a chance. And as long as there’s a chance, I will try.”

The legendary skier was expected to be one of the biggest stars in the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, after she made a surprise return to the sport in 2024, ending a five-year retirement.

When asked about consistent injuries, Vonn admitted she often pushes the limits and has therefore “been injured more times than I would like to admit to myself, even.”

But nothing is perfect in life, she said.

“As many times as I’ve crashed, I’ve always gotten back up. As many times as I’ve failed I’ve always won. So, thankfully actually, all my experience in my life has given me a lot of confidence in knowing what my body can and cannot do.”

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This is a developing story. It may be updated.