Lindsey Vonn to Race Olympic Downhill on Torn ACL

Most athletes would spend a year recovering from a torn ACL, but Lindsey Vonn isn't waiting. The 41-year-old Olympic medalist tore her ACL in a World Cup crash in Switzerland on January 30 and plans to race in Sunday's downhill event anyway.

Vonn posted a video Thursday showing herself powering through knee-heavy workouts while wearing a brace. Her caption made her intentions clear: "I'm not giving up 💪🏻 working as hard as I can to make it happen!"

The ACL is the knee's most important ligament for stability, forming an X shape that prevents too much rotation. When it tears completely, it separates into two pieces. Most people can't ski downhill without an intact ACL, but as Dr. John-Paul Rue notes, "Lindsey Vonn is clearly not your average person."

Her medical team reported Wednesday that despite the complete tear, Vonn has no swelling and no pain. She's using a brace for stability and successfully completed her training run on Friday.

Behind her physical strength is years of mental health work. Vonn's mental coach, Armando Gonzalez, has worked with her since 2021 and says her pain threshold surpasses every athlete he's met.

"She has this internal relationship with pain that's more than most people I've met, including elite athletes," Gonzalez explains. He describes her ability to "make peace with the pain" rather than fighting it, which helps her brain stop alerting her as intensely.

Their sessions initially focused on preparing for retirement, but pivoted to performance when Vonn decided to return. The bigger challenge wasn't pain management but handling outside criticism.

At the Team USA media summit in October, Vonn addressed the negativity: "I know what I'm capable of and no matter how loud the voices get, I always stay true to who I am."

Why This Inspires

Vonn's comeback represents more than athletic determination. Her years of mental health work prepared her for this exact moment, proving that building resilience pays off when you need it most.

Gonzalez praises her approach to problem-solving: "Lindsey is really good with this stoic, internal dialogue in taking apart a problem." She acknowledges pain, embraces it, and makes peace with it rather than demanding it disappear.

Vonn credits her medical team for keeping her body and mind ready for competition's intensity. "They're essential, not just for fixing injuries, but for optimizing the hours of work in the gym and on the mountain," she says.

As Vonn prepares for Sunday's race, Gonzalez sees bigger meaning in her journey: "People like this are meant to exist in our world. We need them. They set new heights."