Lindsey Vonn should be able to ski at the Winter Olympics just days after injuring her cruciate ligament, a knee expert has confirmed, but her decision was viewed as ‘bordering on irresponsible’.
The legendary 41-year-old skier appeared to have had her dream of competing at a fifth Olympics dashed after a horror crash last week.
Vonn was airlifted to hospital after crashing in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, with the American later revealing she had ruptured knee ligaments and torn the ACL in her left knee.
‘I know what my chances were before the crash and I know my chances aren’t the same as it stands today,’ Vonn said at a press conference this week.
‘But I know there’s still a chance, and as long as there’s a chance, I will try.’
Knee specialist Johan Bellemans, who has worked as a team doctor and medical expert for the Belgian Olympic Committee, has explained how it will be possible for Vonn to compete.
Lindsey Vonn’s attempt to ski despite injuring her ACL is ‘possible’ but ‘bordering on irresponsible’ a knee expert has stated
Vonn was airlifted to hospital last week after rupturing her ACL when racing in Switzerland
Bellemans, a specialist in complex knee surgery, admitted he had suspected Vonn had injured her ACL after seeing footage of her crash.
Speaking to Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, Bellemans said he was not surprised by Vonn’s desire to compete despite the injury having worked with her support team and the American team doctor in the past.
Bellemens outlined the task facing Vonn as she bids to compete in the Games, noting that while it was ‘bordering on irresponsible’, a brace should help her to participate.
‘If there’s even a slight chance, she’ll want to ski.
‘Lindsey was so looking forward to that lifelong goal of competing in the Games after her right knee surgery (where she has a half titanium knee).
‘It’s possible, provided the knee isn’t too swollen and a brace can stabilize it properly. It’s bordering on irresponsible, but for a one-off Games, it’s possible with those modern bracings.
We might have decided the same. In the long run, you can’t continue skiing without a cruciate ligament; it’s too risky.’
Bellemens added that Vonn’s muscle strength should be able to absorb the impact, combined with a brace, but acknowledged the American faces a tough task.
The skiing great will line up for Team USA with a knee brace in the women’s downhill event
Vonn is one of the most decorated skiers of all time and embarking on an incredible return
‘You need tremendous muscle strength,’ he added. ‘The ligaments are essential for stability, but the muscles can also absorb heavy forces when combined with a brace.
‘Although getting the muscles to the correct tension is far from easy.’
Vonn’s participation is no doubt a huge boost to organisers – her profile as a two-time world champion and three-time Olympic medallist substantially outweighs most of the athletes in Italy.
Vonn’s participation had already drawn intrigue, given her return to form after ending a five-year retirement in 2024.
Having first quit in 2019 after multiple injuries, Vonn won a World Cup event last December – the 83rd of her career and the first since 2018.
Vonn is one of the most decorated skiers of all time and embarking on an incredible return to the sport heading into the Olympics.
She had made a stunning comeback last season at age 40 after nearly six years away from ski racing.
Competing with a partial titanium implant in her right knee, Vonn has been the circuit’s leading downhiller this season with two victories and three other podium finishes in the five races.
Her first Olympic race is the women’s downhill on February 8. She was also planning on competing in the super-G and the new team combined event at the Games.