Lindsey Vonn’s return to the slopes is more than a comeback; it’s a masterclass in defiance. After retiring in 2019, the legendary alpine ski racer famously said, “My body is broken beyond repair and it isn’t letting me have the final season I dreamed of. My body is screaming at me to STOP.” She walked away, even undergoing a partial titanium knee replacement in April 2024 just to live without daily pain.
But after that surgery, by November 2024 she felt so good that she decided to unretire for one last Olympic run at age 41. Then, just last week in Switzerland, she completely ruptured her ACL during a training run.
Defying the Diagnosis
For most, a “completely ruptured” ligament is the end of the conversation. But Vonn isn’t following that script. She spent the last few days posting videos of herself doing weighted squats and box jumps, proving that her muscles can stabilize a joint that technically has no ligament left to hold it together.
The “Injury Rap Sheet”
To understand why this is so wild, you have to look at what her body has already been through. This isn’t just one torn ACL – it’s a career’s worth of damage:
- 2006: Bruised hip and pelvis (airlifted off the mountain).
- 2007: First ACL sprain (ended her season).
- 2009: Sliced thumb tendon (on a champagne bottle, required surgery).
- 2010: Broken pinky and bruised shin (used Austrian cheese as a home remedy to race).
- 2011: Concussion.
- 2013: Torn ACL, MCL, and a fractured tibial plateau (required reconstruction).
- 2016: Fractures in her left knee and a broken arm with nerve damage.
- 2018: Torn LCL and more fractures (led to her first retirement).
- 2024: Partial knee replacement (titanium implant).
- 2026: 100% Ruptured ACL (last week).
She addressed the latest injury directly this week at a press conference in Cortina d’Ampezzo:
“Normally, in the past, there’s always a moment where you break down and you realize the severity of things and that your dreams are slipping through your fingers. But I didn’t have that this time. I’m not letting this slip through my fingers. I’m gonna do it. End of story.”
The Choice: Kerri Strug vs. Lindsey Vonn
If you follow gymnastics, it’s easy to be reminded of Kerri Strug at the 1996 Olympics. Most of us remember the broadcast version where Bela Karolyi was shouting, “You can do it, Kerri!” But the behind-the-scenes reality was much more intense. As she limped back to the start with a shredded ankle from her previous vault, the exchange was chilling:
Kerri: “I can’t feel my leg.” Bela: “We got to go one more time. Shake it out. You can do it.” Kerri: “Do I have to do this again?” Bela: “You can do it. You better do it.”
A Culture of Silence
This moment was a product of the 1990s gymnastics culture – a “centralized system” run by the Karolyis that prioritized medals over athlete autonomy. It was a culture of fear and intimidation where, as Strug later reflected, “you didn’t really question the adults.” At 18, Kerri didn’t have the information or the power to say no. She later admitted she wished she had known the score – that the team had already secured the gold – so she could have made an informed choice about her own health rather than just following orders.
Choosing the Finish Line
Lindsey Vonn feels like the exact opposite. She isn’t a teenager trapped in a system; she is a 41-year-old veteran who has already “quit” once and decided she wasn’t done. She isn’t dropping into the Women’s Downhill tomorrow because an overpowering coach is telling her she “better do it.” She’s doing it because she is the one in charge of her own narrative.
When she hits the starting gate at 75 mph tomorrow with a brace and zero ACL, she’s showing the world there’s a massive difference between being forced to play the “fighter” and choosing to be a contender on your own terms.
Are you planning to watch the Downhill tomorrow? It starts at 5:30 AM ET. Whether Vonn lands on the podium or not, the fact that she’s even in the starting gate is a conversation in itself.
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It’s good that the Karolyis are out of USA women’s gymnastics
Everyone looks a lot more relaxed and happy #usawomensgymnastics
