Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – Lindsay Vonn has done it before. And succeeded.
Lindsay Vonn is ‘confident’ she can run at the Olympics despite a torn ACL in her left kneeThe 41-year-old American skiing standout is “confident” he can compete at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics despite a torn ACL from a crash four days ago.
Vonn said the damage to his left knee was a “completely torn” ACL, bone bruise “plus meniscal damage.”
After three days of physical therapy and doctors’ advice, Vonn tried skiing on Tuesday. He was not seen strutting in and out of a press conference.
“My knee is not swollen, and with the knee brace, I’m confident I can compete on Sunday,” Vonn said. “And as long as there’s an opportunity, I’ll try… I’ll do everything in my power to be in the starting gate.”
Vonn crashed and ended up in the safety net during the World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on Friday. He was taken to hospital after skiing down the course.
He is expected to be one of the biggest stars of the Winter Games, which kick off with the opening ceremony on Friday. Her first race came two days later in the women’s downhill. He also plans to compete in super-G and novice team combined events.
The inaugural women’s downhill training session is scheduled for Thursday.
“My intention,” Vaughan said, “is to compete in everything.”
Vaughn has suffered numerous crashes and injuries throughout his career. His worst was during a super-G at the 2013 World Championships in Schladming, Austria, which was also held in difficult conditions.
Vaughn tore up his right knee. He returned the following season, was injured again and missed the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
He also crashed before the 2019 world championships but took bronze in the downhill before going on a nearly six-year retirement.
“I’ve been in this position before. I know how to handle it,” Vaughn said. “I feel a lot better now than I did in 2019… and I still got a medal out there with no LCL and three tibial plateau fractures. So, like I said, it’s not unknown for me. I’ve done it before.”
She persevered through a bruised shin treated with Topfen cheese before winning downhill gold at the 2010 Games.
“I don’t need Topfen right now. My knee isn’t swollen,” Vonn said.
Still, Vaughn added, “It will be my best comeback ever. Definitely the most dramatic.”
Teammate Bella Wright said Vonn has what it takes — a strong mental state — to ski through her injuries.
“If anyone can do it, it’s Lindsey,” Wright said.
Downhill and combined world champion Breezy Johnson was in a similar situation as Vonn during the 2022 World Cup weekend in Cortina.
“I’ve tried and failed to ski this course with no ACL and that doesn’t mean he can’t do it,” Johnson said. “There are a lot more athletes who ski without an ACL and with knee damage than we talk about.”
Andrea Panzeri, chief physician of the Italian Winter Sports Federation, said numerous athletes have competed at the elite level with torn ACLs and other serious knee problems.
Vonn’s fellow downhiller Sofia Goggia returned to win a silver medal at the 2022 Olympics weeks after spraining her left knee, partially tearing her ACL and suffering a “minor fracture” of the fibular bone in her leg – plus some tendon damage.
Italian freestyle skier Flora Tabanelli tore the ACL in her right knee in November but put off surgery until after the Olympics.
Although Tabanelli is 18.
“But this course has experience, physical ability and experience,” says Panzeri. “If he decides to try and run, it’s because of his clinical condition and his doctors allowing him. He has nothing to lose. I think it’s worth a try.”
Vonn made a great comeback last season after nearly six years away. Skiing with a partial titanium implant in his right knee, he has been the circuit’s leading downhiller this season with two wins and three podium finishes in five races.
Including Super-G, Vonn completed eight World Cup races and finished on the podium in seven. His worst finish was fourth.
Women’s skiing during the Games will be in Cortina, where Vonn holds the World Cup record with 12 wins.
He has won three Olympic medals: gold in downhill in 2010 and bronze in super-Z, and bronze in downhill in 2018.
It’s not about Vonn’s recovery over the past few days.
On his way to Cortina, he stopped at the grave of his childhood coach Erich Seiler, who died in August at the age of 99.
Sailor coached Vaughn in Buck Hill, Minnesota. He is buried just outside of Innsbruck, Austria.
Vaughan said Even though he shed a few tears while visiting the tomb – the only tear he has shed in days.
“I miss him. And I know exactly what he’s going to say to me now. And it definitely gives me extra hope that I know he’s going to support me,” Vonn added.
“He’d say, ‘It’s only 90 seconds. What’s 90 seconds in a lifetime? It’s nothing. You can do it.’ ” said Vaughn. “Hey that’s what he told me before my last race and I know he’ll tell me again today.”
Associated Press writer Jennifer McDermott contributed.
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