Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn has confirmed a complete ACL tear weeks before the Winter Games
She plans to compete in elite alpine skiing despite the injury and without surgical reconstruction
Competing with a torn ACL is considered medically high risk, particularly in downhill skiing
Such cases are rare and fall outside standard sports medicine recommendations
Lindsey Vonn, a former Olympic alpine skier from the United States, has stated that she plans to compete in the upcoming Winter Olympics despite sustaining a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The announcement has drawn attention because ACL rupture is considered a major knee injury that typically limits athletic participation, particularly in high-speed sports such as alpine skiing.
The injury occurred in January 2026 during a World Cup downhill race in Crans Montana, Switzerland, after Vonn crashed while landing from a jump and attempting to initiate a turn. Subsequent MRI imaging confirmed a complete tear of her left ACL.
According to reports from the Associated Press, Vonn resumed on snow training within weeks of the injury and later confirmed publicly that the ligament was fully torn, countering early speculation that the injury might be partial.
The Winter Olympics are scheduled for February 2026 in Milan Cortina, Italy, leaving only weeks between diagnosis and the planned competition.
This is not, obviously, what I had hoped for. I’ve been working really hard to come into these Games in a much different position. I know 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.
Lindsey Vonn, Three-time Olympic Medalist
The ACL is one of the primary stabilizing ligaments of the knee joint. It connects the femur to the tibia and limits forward movement and rotational instability. A complete ACL tear means the ligament fibers are fully disrupted and cannot restore normal knee mechanics without intervention.1
Epidemiological studies show that ACL injuries are common in athletes involved in high-impact and pivoting sports. Such injuries are often associated with meniscal damage, bone bruising, and long-term risk of knee osteoarthritis.2
In a February 2026 video analysis on his YouTube channel, Sports Medicine Physician, Dr. Brian Sutterer, reviewed footage of Vonn’s crash and described subtle but classic signs of an ACL rupture, including anterior translation of the tibia relative to the femur followed by a visible pivot shift as weight was unloaded from the leg.
He explained that skiing places extreme multidirectional forces on the knee, particularly during downhill events that involve high speeds, jumps, and aggressive turning.
Without an intact ACL, the knee relies heavily on muscular compensation, primarily from the hamstrings, to maintain stability.
Dr. Sutterer emphasized that while some athletes with strong neuromuscular control may temporarily function without an ACL, alpine skiers are often quadriceps dominant, a pattern that can worsen anterior tibial translation and instability in the absence of the ligament.
He further noted that ACL tears are frequently accompanied by additional intra articular injuries, including meniscal tears, cartilage damage, and bone contusions, along with acute swelling that inhibits muscle activation and joint control.
From a medical standpoint, he described Vonn’s attempt to race as a monumentally difficult and dangerous undertaking, with the greatest concern being knee buckling during high force maneuvers that could result in a catastrophic crash rather than isolated ligament damage alone.
Standard management of a complete ACL tear in physically active individuals usually involves surgical reconstruction, followed by structured rehabilitation. Return to sport typically occurs six to nine months after surgery, depending on recovery and sport demands.⁶
Non-surgical treatment may include physiotherapy, strength training, and knee bracing. However, the ACL does not heal spontaneously, and knee stability depends on muscle compensation and external support rather than ligament recovery.1,3
Functional knee bracing may provide proprioceptive feedback and psychological reassurance, but multiple orthopedic sources note that braces do not reliably prevent pivot shift or instability in high demand sports such as downhill skiing.
According to multiple reports, Vonn has undergone intensive physical therapy, regular knee evaluations, and training while wearing a functional knee brace. She has completed supervised downhill training runs, with her participation dependent on knee stability, pain levels, and absence of swelling.
Vonn said at a press conference by the U.S. ski team at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on Tuesday, that she had finished her practice runs using a knee brace and felt confident about competing when the downhill event begins on February 8.
Considering how my knee feels, I feel stable, I feel strong, my knee is not swollen, and with the help of a knee brace, I am confident that I can compete on Sunday.
Lindsey Vonn, Three-time Olympic medalist
Orthopedic literature generally advises against returning to high-speed or pivoting sports without an intact ACL because of the increased risk of secondary meniscal injury, cartilage damage, and early degenerative joint disease.1,3
Vonn’s situation highlights the difference between elite athletic decision-making and routine clinical recommendations for the general population.
Experts stress that elite athletes may accept risks that would not be considered appropriate or safe for the general population, particularly when competing at the highest level with extensive medical resources available.
This case should not be interpreted as guidance for standard patient care. Competing with a torn ACL requires extensive medical oversight and carries known risks. For most individuals, surgical reconstruction remains the recommended option to restore knee stability and reduce long-term complications.
Cleveland Clinic. “ACL Tear.” Cleveland Clinic, reviewed 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16576-acl-tear
Sanders, Timothy L., Hilal Maradit Kremers, Aaron J. Bryan, Daniel R. Larson, David L. Dahm, Bruce A. Levy, Michael J. Stuart, and Aaron J. Krych. “Incidence of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tears and Reconstruction: A 21-Year Population-Based Study.” American Journal of Sports Medicine 44, no. 6 (June 2016): 1502–1507. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546516629944.
Evans, Joseph, Ahmed Mabrouk, and Jennifer L. Nielson. “Anterior Cruciate Ligament Knee Injury.” In StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing, updated November 17, 2023. Accessed January 2025. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29763023/
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