Listen to this article
Estimated 4 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Follow Winter Olympic SportsPersonalize Your Feed
Lindsey Vonn is “confident” she can compete at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics beginning this week despite the left knee injury she sustained in a crash four days ago.
Vonn said on Tuesday she “completed ruptured” her ACL, has bone bruising “plus meniscal damage.”
But after three days of physical therapy and consultations with doctors, Vonn went skiing on Tuesday with a brace on her knee.
“It feels stable, it feels strong,” she said, adding she was “confident” to race.
“I will do everything in my power to be in the starting gate.”
Vonn crashed in a downhill in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on Friday and ended up in the safety nets. After skiing down to the bottom of the course, she was airlifted away for medical attention.
Lindsey Vonn of the USA crashed into the course netting after conditions deteriorated and the race was cancelled Friday at the World Cup downhill in Crans Montana, Switzerland.
Vonn, a 41-year-old American, was expected to be one of the biggest stars of the Winter Games, which start Friday with the opening ceremony. Her first race comes two days later in the women’s downhill on Sunday. Then Vonn was also planning on competing in super-G and the new team combined event.
The opening women’s downhill training session is scheduled for Thursday.
Vonn made a stunning comeback last season at age 40 after nearly six years away from ski racing. Skiing with a partial titanium implant in her right knee, she has been the circuit’s leading downhiller this season with two victories and three other podium finishes in five races.
Including super-G, Vonn completed eight World Cup races and finished on the podium in seven of them. Her worst finish was fourth.
Women’s skiing during the Games will be in Cortina, where Vonn holds the World Cup record with 12 wins.
Clutched her left knee
Vonn has won three Olympic medals: Gold in downhill and bronze in super-G in 2010 and bronze in downhill in 2018.
She got up after receiving medical attention for about five minutes, seemingly in pain and using her poles to steady herself. Vonn then skied slowly to the finish line, stopping a couple of times on the way down and clutching her left knee.
“I crashed today in the downhill race in Switzerland and injured my left knee. I am discussing the situation with my doctors and team and will continue to undergo further exams,” Vonn wrote in her Instagram post. “Thank you for all of the love and support. I will give more information when I have it.”
The race, which was held in difficult conditions with low visibility, was canceled after Vonn’s crash.
The American, who was expected to be one of the biggest stars of the Games, limped into a tent for medical attention before being airlifted away by helicopter, dangling from a hoist cable with two people attending her.
Lindsey Vonn of the USA crashed into the course netting after conditions deteriorated and the race was cancelled Friday at the World Cup downhill in Crans Montana, Switzerland.
Norwegian men’s skier Kilde out of Olympics
Norwegian skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde will not compete in Milan Cortina as he tries to regain his form following a serious crash two years ago.
“I have done everything I possibly could to be ready for the Olympics but my mind and body are not performing the way I need them to,” Kilde said from Bormio, Italy on Tuesday.
Kilde underwent surgery for a severe cut and nerve damage in his right calf and two torn ligaments in his shoulder after crashing in sight of the finish at the classic Lauberhorn downhill in Wengen, Switzerland, in January 2024.
He returned to the World Cup this season.
“It is extremely hard to come to this decision after all the work I have put in together with my family, medical team, the national team and many others. At the same time, I am proud that I managed to fight my way back and compete at the World Cup again,” Kilde added.
Kilde won the silver medal in combined and bronze in super-G at the 2022 Beijing Games.
Aleksander Aamodt Kilde of Norway crashed hard into the fencing Saturday during the World Cup downhill race in Wengen, Switzerland and had to be removed by helicopter.
Source link
