MILAN — American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn took a significant step forward in her remarkable comeback on Friday, completing her first downhill training run just one week after tearing the ACL in her left knee.
The 41-year-old Olympic champion successfully navigated the course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, finishing the roughly 100-second run without visible difficulty and smiling as she crossed the line. The effort marked her first time back on skis since suffering the injury during a World Cup race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, where she lost control after a jump while setting up for a right-hand turn.
Vonn’s ability to complete the run was a critical milestone as she attempts to compete in her first Winter Olympics since 2018. While the torn ligament is a serious setback, it affects a different knee than the one that required multiple surgeries and ultimately contributed to her retirement in 2019. She returned to competition last year after a lengthy recovery and training process.
Friday’s training session was delayed by more than an hour due to poor visibility on the course, adding another challenge to an already tense day. Still, Vonn emerged encouraged by how her body responded.
Speaking earlier in the week, Vonn said she had undergone intensive rehabilitation since the injury and felt confident about her stability. She noted that her knee had not swelled and credited both therapy and a supportive brace for helping her feel ready to race.
Before the injury, Vonn’s comeback season had been defined by an unexpected run of good health and strong results. Two World Cup victories last month elevated her into serious medal contention, particularly in Cortina, a venue she has long described as her favorite on the circuit.
Vonn acknowledged that the injury has altered her outlook but not her determination.
She said her chances are no longer what they were before the crash, but emphasized that as long as there is still an opportunity to compete, she intends to pursue it. Drawing on her experience with past injuries, Vonn added that her knee currently feels stronger than it did during previous comebacks, including the 2019 World Championships, where she still managed to earn a medal.
Whether she ultimately races remains dependent on medical evaluations and race-day conditions, but Friday’s successful run provided a powerful signal that one of alpine skiing’s most decorated athletes is not ready to step aside just yet.
