Lindsey Vonn Triumphantly Completes Downhill Run After ACL Tear Recovery

Emerson Raymont

Published: February 7, 2026 4:34 AM ET

Lindsey Vonn Triumphantly Completes Downhill Run After ACL Tear Recovery

Lindsey Vonn, the renowned American Alpine skier, has made her return to competition just a week after suffering an ACL tear. This significant injury occurred during a World Cup event in Cans Montana, Switzerland. Despite the setback, Vonn took to the slopes in Italy for the women’s downhill training ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics. This marked her first official run since the injury.

Lindsey Vonn’s Recovery Progress

During the training session, the 41-year-old skier recorded the 11th fastest time, finishing with a time of +1.39 seconds behind the leader. While this result does not influence medal standings for the upcoming Olympics, it was essential for Vonn. To compete in the downhill event in Cortina, she needed to complete at least one official training run.

Coach’s Assessment

Following the training, Vonn opted to skip media engagements to focus on her recovery. However, her coach, Aksel Lund Svindal, shared optimistic observations with reporters. He noted that Vonn approached the run wisely, avoiding taking unnecessary risks. Svindal remarked, “She made a mistake on the bottom, but the rest looked like good skiing. No big risk.”

He added that her skiing appeared symmetrical, indicating a successful rehabilitation process. “I didn’t see any differences [between her] right and left [side], and that’s what we were looking for today, so it was good,” Svindal stated.

Looking Ahead to the Olympic Games

Regarding Vonn’s chances for Olympic success, Svindal expressed hope. “From what I saw today, I think she can. It’s gonna be hard, but she could possibly bring that [performance] on Sunday.” Vonn’s upcoming chance for a medal will occur during the downhill event on Sunday at 5:30 a.m. ET. This race will be available for streaming live on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com.

Performance Highlights

In the competitive training field, American skier Jackie Wiles dominated, posting the fastest time at 1:38.94. There were 47 racers in total during this training session, each eyeing a chance to secure a spot on the Olympic podium.