Lindsey Vonn has announced her intention to compete in the upcoming Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, even though she suffered a severe knee injury approximately one week prior to her initial event.
The 41-year-old skier revealed she fully tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee following a crash at a World Cup downhill competition on January 30. Additionally, she experienced a bone contusion and meniscal tears—the meniscus being the knee’s shock-absorbing cartilage.
Vonn maintains that her Olympic aspirations remain intact. Her debut Olympic competition—the women’s downhill—is scheduled for Sunday, February 8. Following thorough medical consultations, rigorous rehabilitation, physical evaluations, and on-snow training, she has concluded that she can participate in Sunday’s Olympic downhill race.
Can you ski with a torn ACL?
According to Dr. Anthony Petrosini, an orthopedic sports medicine specialist at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, athletes in sports with high ACL injury risk typically require reconstructive surgery and extensive rehabilitation before returning to competition.
Petrosini, who was not involved in Vonn’s treatment, notes that for a high school or collegiate athlete, medical advice would counsel against competition with such an injury. However, he describes Vonn as a unique case, stating that if anyone could manage it, she would be the one.
Vonn reports that despite her injuries, her knee remains stable and her muscles are functioning properly. She plans to race wearing a supportive brace.
“As long as there’s a possibility, I won’t abandon hope. I won’t surrender!” declared Vonn, a five-time Olympic competitor who returned to competition in 2024 after injuries had forced her into retirement more than five years earlier.
What causes ACL injuries?
ACL injuries frequently occur in sports demanding rapid direction changes, jumping, or abrupt stops—such as soccer, football, wrestling, and skiing. These injuries can vary from mild sprains and partial tears to full ruptures.
Petrosini explains that competing with a fully ruptured ACL, as in Vonn’s situation, is unlikely to cause additional damage to the ligament itself. However, without surgical repair, other knee components face increased injury risk during high-impact sports like skiing, even with bracing.
How do you treat a torn ACL?
Petrosini indicates that surgical intervention isn’t mandatory for all ACL tears or ruptures. Conservative management with rest and physiotherapy may suffice for minor injuries or non-athletes. Nevertheless, all individuals with ACL injuries should consult a physician to assess severity, evaluate risks, and discuss treatment alternatives.
“Delaying treatment heightens the risk of cartilage deterioration,” he warns, noting that this could result in long-term complications like arthritis.