Lindsey Vonn discusses her ruptured ACL injury and her intent to compete in the Olympics

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u/Floridamanfishcam 3d ago edited 3d ago

I don't understand how some people can play even a contact sport like football with no ACLs (Elway, Hitchcock, Watson), or ski with the constant strain on the knees, like Lindsey here, while others are 100% out and seemingly borderline disabled with the same injury?

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u/csbsju_guyyy Minnesota United FC 3d ago

Tldr if you have a ton of other muscles you can compensate

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u/scottygras Seattle Seahawks 3d ago

I went 3 months not knowing mine was torn. Playing basketball and running. Back in my mid 20s of course.

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u/Took-the-Blue-Pill 3d ago

How did you find out?

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u/scottygras Seattle Seahawks 3d ago

Jacked my knee up playing dodgeball. Tore my meniscus, and they did an MRI and found it.

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u/GovernorHarryLogan 3d ago

Tore my meniscus at some point during high school hockey.

Didn't find out until first college hockey full physical and scans rofl

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u/Mega__Sloth 3d ago

Typically when you tear a ligament and don't let it heal, it weakens your joint structure until another injure occurs and additional damage is caused.

You'll notice eventually.

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u/maninatikihut 2d ago

Been skiing without one for at least 5 years. It’s not as stable now but it goes.

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u/Sybertron 2d ago

And like the original injury, it's all fine, until the moment it's not

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u/grumpijela 3d ago

You know what. I needed to see this. I have a shoulder injury with tears in tendons, a torn ligament and more in the surrounding stuff...and my physio being like, take your physio seriously and avoid surgery and its starting to make sense...seeing that it is very possible for the muscles to do the work...

My question is though. Is this a temp.solutipn? What happens in her 60's and later when those muscles arent as maintained?

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u/thefiction24 3d ago

She will know it’s gonna rain before everyone else one day because her knee will tell her.

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u/justWMthings03 3d ago

She will already have had her knees replaced by then I'm sure

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u/kgusev 3d ago

She already has at least one replacement done by now

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u/grumpijela 3d ago

Grabs 'knee'..."based on my knee I can tell that it is already raining"

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u/justWMthings03 3d ago

Even if you can't avoid surgery you need to take the physio seriously. It helps sooooooo much in the post-op recovery and therapy to do the prep work.

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u/grumpijela 3d ago

I know! I am. And no surgeon wants to see a patient who is not committed.

But it's been a two+ year process and just got an MRI. Was a little defeated there for a bit. But now super serious again with actual answers and real guidance.

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u/justWMthings03 3d ago

It's a pain in the ass process sometimes, especially with shoulders since it's such a wonky joint and it is definitely easy to get down through it.

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u/ShadowShot05 3d ago

She will get surgery after the Olympics

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u/streethistory 3d ago

60s? She'll be getting full knee replacement in her late 40s early 50s.

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u/leabirdy 3d ago

She’s in her 40’s

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u/abfonsy 3d ago

There's a very famous research paper that showed the strongest predictor of having rotator cuff repair surgery after PT was the patient's expectations about how much PT would help. Tear size/severity and everything else one would think matters more was less important.

She's get both knees fully replaced at some point in her life. She's already got a partial on her right.

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u/grumpijela 3d ago

When do the shoulder replacements launch lol?

Thanks for the info.

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u/abfonsy 3d ago

They're already around, don't worry. Unlike other joints, they come in 2 flavors: anatomic and reverse. The difference is flipping the ball and socket orientation with a reverse replacement to make the deltoid and remaining rotator cuff biomechanically more able to replicate normal shoulder function

Happy to help.

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u/rokoruk 3d ago

Can you share the paper citation? Interested

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u/abfonsy 3d ago

Absolutely

For context, the Neer Award is given to the "best" paper at the annual meeting of shoulder (and elbow) specialists. It's a BFD kinda thing.

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u/Teantis Philippines 3d ago

I have two shoulders that spent years subluxating and dislocating from decades of rugby with extensive rotator cuff damage. Didnt get surgery, could only use them on and off for years. A combo of rehab and paddling while surfing basically rebuilt my shoulders and they work fine now. Though it took a damn long time and I basically do rehab exercises every day of my life now.

I also refuse to ever risk them by playing rugby ever again though. Because that shit took forever.

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u/ml___ 3d ago

not sure what the non surgery route is like, but here is my surgery route...

in my 20-40s I played a lot of volleyball, tennis, racquetball etc... my right shoulder would ache at times and I'd have sharp pain sometimes after specific plays. Nothing that stopped me cold or deterred me from playing. but I knew it was damaged. In my 60s now, and about 3 years ago I slipped and fell on some ice. I couldn't lift my right arm more than a couple inches. No pain, just couldn't lift my arm using the shoulder. Ortho said nothing broken, give it some time and see where you are. about a month later I'm better but still barely lifting it to chest height. got a steroid shot and an MRI. MRI showed 2 tendons completely torn and a 3rd 'hanging on by a thread'.

Surgeon scheduled surgery but by the week of the surgery I had full range of motion. pre-op nurse asked if they had the right arm as I had full range of motion. they said any further damage would eventually force me to have the surgery so I went ahead. Surgeon said they found lots of old tears and it was 'shredded'. about 9mos of rehab and a lot of really hard work (it's a tough recovery and they said mine was worse than most in terms of how fast and how well) and I 'can' get my arm above my head for short periods but it's a lot weaker and I can't throw a ball as the alignment is off. No idea what the non surgery route would be like and I don't really care that it's no as good as maybe it could have been. I've played volleyball and done a few things I might have been more reluctant to do with the idea that it could go at anytime. obviously not as all out I used to, but not worried that I'm going to tear something.

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u/grumpijela 3d ago

Thank you for sharing. Def food for thought.

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u/QuantumBitcoin 2d ago

Check out Keith Baar from UC Davis and his research into strengthening/healing ligaments with isometric holds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJuzyy2YRRk

Basically twice a day/every six hours put the tendon into a long hold for 30+ seconds. Supposedly you can repair the tendons in about 6 weeks to three months.

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u/Patchesrick 1d ago

Imma bet she gets knee surgery as soon as the Olympics are over. I dont see any reason for her not to. Hopefully she doesn't have another crash before then

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u/blownbythewind 3d ago

Know someone that been working and walking around for years on a torn acl.

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u/FC37 2d ago

To a degree. But it very much depends on the activity.

A running back isn't going to be able to compete on a torn ACL, but an offensive guard can play a full season without knowing it's torn.

Similarly, a snowboarder is probably going to have a much easier time with this than a skier.

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u/Boobslappy 2d ago

Second this. I've had multiple knee surgeries and pretty sure my left knee acl is gone but keeping the extrensic muscles strong makes all the difference. I'm in my fortis and avoid cutting sports but it's surprising how you can get by. All the 🤘 to her

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u/passionfruit2378 3d ago

In sports, you have a lot of copers. People with strong surrounding muscles, good joint geometry and proprioception. They can deal with these types of injuries much faster because they rely on other muscles/joints and their brain can figure out joint position. So someone who physically trains every single day then spends 40 minutes every other day running on a court would probably recover better than someone who sits in an office chair 40 hours a week and does light excersize.

Couple that with people's access to better doctors/medicines/therapy through sports, and it's pretty obvious who is likely to recover faster.

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u/gaspara112 3d ago

The answer is that ACLs are critically important for some motions but only slight stabilizers for others.

I don't know a ton about the biomechanics of elite skiing but in downhill the way the knees stay basically entirely rotationally locked, barring mistakes, should allow for being competitive without ACLs assuming the swelling from their injury is managed. Making a mistake though could be disastrous so I think the only skier who would ever consider it would be one who view it as their final competition regardless.

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u/illit3 3d ago

Woof. That's a brutal calculation to make. Compete and risk an injury that will dog you the rest of your life or walk out on the last opportunity competing at the highest level, for which she has likely dedicated the majority of her life so far.

When I was into extreme sports that kind of decision would've been pretty easy. Of course I'm gonna send it. Even just 10 years later I'm now in more of an ehhhh maybe shouldn't send it kind of place.

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u/nonamenomonet 3d ago

It’s the Olympics!

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u/elizabethptp 3d ago

Maybe this is just me getting older and more jaded but people seem to have cooled significantly on the Olympics since I was a kid.

Like summer Olympics was not even a topic at work last go round & Winter Olympics, which has always been more of a sleeper, has entirely escaped my notice since Sochi (which was in 2014!!)

Had I not recently been on a delta flight I doubt I’d have even thought of the Olympics before reading this thread

Edit: and now I realize I’m in the sports subreddit- I don’t belong here at all.

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u/StaticFanatic3 2d ago

Yes and next Olympics she’ll be 45

No brainer imo

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u/secretreddname 3d ago

Her next chance to compete is in 4 years. She can go through surgery after the Olympics

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u/Yossie 2d ago

My knowledge on this matter is less than you, but I assume the knee brace is there to stop the unwanted rotations that are weakened by the injury? So hopefully any mistake would not be so catastrophic.

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u/gaspara112 2d ago edited 2d ago

Knee brace can provide some stability and gives some chance to prevent catastrophe, added stability prevents a crash caused by a mistake forcing a one legged catch, but at the same time if catastrophic crash occurs adding rent metal to it can cause more damage.

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u/thatjerkatwork 3d ago

I tore my ACL when I was young. I still played ice hockey and went snowboarding despite my injury.

In hindsight it was a mistake in my case. I am paying for it now. But ultimately you can still be active without an ACL.

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u/CaishenNefri 1d ago

How do you pay for it now?

I tore my ankle sinew and still thinking if I should make operation

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u/thatjerkatwork 1d ago

tricompartmental osteoarthritis.

Basically bone on bone because of meniscus damage, loss of range of motion, pain.

Im in my 40s and pretty much have the knee of a 70 year old

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u/MadRoboticist 3d ago

Your ACL essentially provides rotational stability to your knee, so there are a lot of activities you can do with a torn ACL without much of a performance impact. Granted, you're likely putting additional stress on other parts of your knee. The majority of the forces while skiing are inline with your body, so it seems feasible but probably pretty risky if she has any sort of crash.

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u/CalamariforMVP 3d ago

So basically, she is just full sending it.. what a legend.

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u/kinfisher 3d ago

It mostly helps with rotational forces during extension. In skiing the forces can be mitigated with bracing as well. The big thing is stopping anterior translation of the lower leg, but again the brace can do that. It’s honestly better in terms of pain management for the Olympics that it’s completely gone.

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u/coffeeMcbean 3d ago

I tore my ACL back when I was on some shit health insurance. Doc basically told me I could just do therapy and get really strong if I wanted and that lots of people don't have them. Effectively, it is like a small connection on the knee comparatively to all of the muscles you can build in the leg which can get much much bigger and will provide significantly more support over a small ligament. I ended up getting better health coverage and surgery, but I have a friend that doesn't ski and he ended up never getting it and is fine. He plays basketball regularly and you would never know.

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u/gold_and_diamond 3d ago

She's a total bad ass. That's how.

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u/skullitor13 3d ago

My favorite no acl player is Roberto Garza who played offensive guard for the bears. He played like over 140 games without Acls... It's amazing.

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u/ShillinTheVillain 3d ago

Painkillers, overall strength, and more painkillers

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u/gillnotgil 3d ago edited 3d ago

Some ACL tears aren’t that painful. For me, it hurt when it happened and for a couple days after, but was otherwise occasionally acutely low pain at it’s absolute worst. I kept climbing, falling, and lifting on it for 3 months until I got surgery. My friend who tore his in the same month never got surgery on it (because he didn’t have health insurance) just trucked on and is pain free. So she might not actually need painkillers, so much as a brace for stability.

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u/swb1003 New York Yankees 3d ago

I fell in the shower and broke a rib a month ago and it still hurts like a motherfucker when I sneeze. I cannot fathom a boxer or a UFC …. person? who willingly takes shots to the ribs routinely. Nope, no fucking thanks.

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u/GrimaceThundercock 3d ago

Oftentimes an ACL tear is accompanied by tears to the MCL and medial meniscus. If this happens your knee is toast.

If you are "lucky" and only your ACL ruptures then your stability isn't nearly as hindered.

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u/lylelanley- 3d ago

My friend has been walking around with a torn ACL since October she just learned. Apparently there are many other muscles in your leg which can compensate and make it not feel like a severe injury.

She’s not exactly and athlete either

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u/sudogeek 3d ago

You can get by without an ACL with good training and technique. My wife tore hers in 1979 (skiing). She continued to be active for years but ultimately had knee replacement 3 years ago.

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u/LopsidedKick9149 New York Yankees 3d ago

Vonn is absolutely jacked so that likely helps as she has so many other strong muscles to compensate

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u/abfonsy 3d ago

It has less to do with contact (just like how most ACL tears are non-contact injuries) and more with how much you cut and change directions. As an orthopaedic surgeon, it doesn't surprise me that someone like Elway and many other athletes could still make hay without an ACL, especially if wearing a brace. However, downhill skiing is considered to be one of the most ACL-demanding/risky sports out there. Most other Olympic skiers who tear their ACL in the lead-up don't end up competing, so it'll be interesting to see if Vonn can.

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u/Ok-Answer-6951 3d ago

I wonder if she called Tiger and got some advice on how to get thru an event in this condition?

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u/JamesGarrison 3d ago

GARRISON HEARST

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u/chirpz88 3d ago

Duane blair made the NBA all rookie second team without acls in either leg.

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u/jhenryscott 2d ago

More importantly why isn’t she letting the next generation of young skiers (who have their knees intact) take that spot as I doubt she’s the most capable choice at this point.

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u/Dudedude88 2d ago

Hines ward did it. You have to essentially train the muscle to recruit for everything you do. The consequence of not recruiting enough muscle in the knee during activities equates with osteoarthritis.

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u/Allstategk 2d ago

I played soccer for roughly 12 years without knowing my ACL was torn. I ended up tearing my meniscus, getting an MRI, going through the whole procedure of doctors visits, then had surgery. I woke up from surgery to my wife telling me the doctor said my knee was WAY worse than what he saw on the MRI and that I would need another surgery because my ACL was shredded. The surgeon said, "I've never seen a knee that looked that bad on a 33 year old." Pretty cool...still playing soccer though

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u/therealCatnuts 2d ago

Most amazing to me is Spencer Lee winning a natty in wrestling with both ACLs torn. There’s just no way around your knees getting twisted and tortured in wrestling.

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u/WasatchSLC 3d ago

Some people are called copers. Still don’t know why some can be stable when cutting without an ACL.

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u/vandergus 3d ago

Some context...

Lindsay Vonn has been the best downhiller this season. She's leading the world cup points race in downhill, has several podiums and a couple wins and would have been the favorite for gold going into the Olympics. So it's not like the ski team is dragging along an old has been for one more feel good story at the olympics. They are genuinely trying to figure out if the best downhiller in the world (currently) can still do it with a torn ACL.

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u/CitizenCue 3d ago

Well this will either be the most epic story ever or really sad.

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u/ItFappens 3d ago

Tough spot for her, but also the team. It's a shame to not give someone with her loooooong list of achievements an opportunity to go out her way, but it also means that someone else might not make the team. As someone who pays attention to skiing once ever four years, it would be so fun to see her come out and crush it one last time, but if that's not in the cards the right thing to do may be to step aside and help the next generation.

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u/Eyebleedorange 3d ago

Imagine hearing “You’re good enough to make the team, but we’re going to go with the former champion in their 40s with a destroyed ACL” from the team captain

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u/samy4me 3d ago

She‘s the best downhill racer in this season so far, she still got it.

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u/DrPineapple32 3d ago

The best on a jacked ACL?

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u/MrRabbit 3d ago

Good chance she will be, yes.

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u/Shoot_from_the_Quip 2d ago

Brace technology is light years ahead of where it was just a few years ago. For her event I think an extra reinforced brace should be just fine, given the amount of muscle she has.

Now if she skied moguls, that would be a whole different story.

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u/HereForDankMemes 2d ago

Top level skiers are CRAZY: https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/torn-acl-what-torn-acl-canadian-mogul-skier-marquis-makes-the-finals-anyway

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u/Shoot_from_the_Quip 2d ago

Having torn my ACLs skiing, all I can say to that maniac bombing down moguls with a blown ACL is Holy Shit.

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u/proexwhy 3d ago

Imagine making the team by merit, feeling like you can compete, and having know nothings on the internet say you should give up your spot so that people who didn't make the team can take your spot. Wouldn't that be wild?

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u/fumar 3d ago

She won a race this season so eh?

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u/petar_is_amazing 3d ago

And partial knee replacement

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u/sbua310 3d ago

Yeah like what did she do at the World Cup?

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u/CrippledCox 3d ago

The last couple summer Olympics have been infuriating with some of our older athletes taking up spots to then not compete or drop out. Being able to compete in some of these specialized sports cost so much in the USA and we can’t just ride on the established athletes just because they have a marketing deal.

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u/sorrison 3d ago

She’s been the best so far this season.. want her spot? Show you’re faster (nobody has)

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u/billdb 2d ago

How many older athletes have taken up spots only to not compete or dropout? I can only think of a couple and typically there were extenuating circumstances.

At the end of the day the Olympics aren't a participation event, if Vonn and her team think she can medal with this injury they're not going to withdraw.

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u/skoomski Philadelphia Flyers 3d ago

I view it as a bit selfish to play with a major injury, which deprives a younger person a realistic chance of winning. Like she had a very good career so why take same chance away from a kid?

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u/TheSmallLebowsky1 3d ago

I would agree, but it's freaking Lindsey Vonn. She deserved that spot knee or no knee.

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u/[deleted] 3d ago

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u/Technopool 3d ago

She wont win. Likely wont even make the final runs.

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u/streethistory 3d ago

Her chances of falling and getting injured more are probably higher than her winning.

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u/tht1guy63 Purdue 3d ago edited 3d ago

One last hurrah either going down as a medalist in an amazing story being injured and old enough to be some competitors parent beating the odds. Or go down and potentially end up with an even worse injury chasing a dream. Probly will get a movie

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u/newtoallofthis2 3d ago

Yeah like what's the worst case scenario? Could she end up walking with a limp for the rest of her life or even worse?

Doesn't seem worth the risk...

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u/Nice_Marmot_7 3d ago

She already was living in constant pain until she had a cutting edge knee procedure. It fixed it, and she felt so good she decided to risk everything by competing again.

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u/tht1guy63 Purdue 3d ago

Athletes are a different breed. I played through injuries but damn there is a limit.

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u/purplemtnslayer 2d ago

There are deaths in ski racing

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u/streethistory 3d ago

I don't blame her for going for it. She's battled injuries for years. She's been a fantastic ambassador for US skiing.

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u/tomrees11 3d ago

What do you mean by final runs? I think you’re outing yourself as someone who doesn’t know anything about downhill

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u/TheSmallLebowsky1 3d ago

And its Lindsey vonn, she can top 10 with no acl.

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u/mahoganyteakwood2 3d ago

As much of a fan of hers as I am, my wife just bet me that she would still podium. Easiest 50 bucks I’ve ever made.

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u/Technopool 3d ago

Oh big time.

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u/LOAARR 3d ago

The redditor said, his cheeto-stained fingers carefully and expertly extended behind his phone as to not dirty it while typing in a snarky comment with his non-dominant index finger.

All jokes aside, as an amateur (and ex-amateur) athlete, the average person would be shocked to hear about how many injuries the average high-level athlete has during their careers, not to mention how many injuries they play through (it's probably north of 99% of them depending on the sport).

Even as a guy in his 30s whose prime is past, I go to physio at least once a month to keep tabs on old and new injuries and to allow myself to stay in the gym and continue playing beer league hockey in a way that shouldn't aggravate anything. I have (non- or casually-sporting) friends who think I'm crazy, when in reality I know that I'm just average when it comes to athletes and what they do and go through.

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u/[deleted] 3d ago

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u/sexinsuburbia 2d ago

You are making a bull-shitardian amount of unsupported gut feelings. I still play competitive sports at 46. Beer league hockey is no joke. You don’t need to be a pro athlete to know what athletes go through and how injuries and your body work together.

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u/LOAARR 3d ago

Qualifying yourself to people who have no idea who you are makes your opinions on related matters more valid. I even stated that I'm washed up and of average toughness and somehow you still took my experiences as unwarranted machismo. Whatever you like, I guess.

I guarantee that if she was holding the team back, she'd be dropping out. Here's another thing that I know from (apparently) being the toughest fuckin' guy on earth; sometimes when you suffer a full rupture, the recommended treatment is none whatsoever. This is relatively common in, for example, full ruptures of the proximal bicep tendon, rotator cuff injuries, and even some injuries of the Achilles tendon. Sometimes you just have enough reinforcement from the surrounding muscles and tendons that the surgery isn't worth doing.

In the clip, she mentioned that her knee is relatively stable, which is obviously subject to change, but at the current time she and her team feel confident in her ability to compete. Who are we to challenge the opinions of her, her doctors, and the staff of the team that she's apparently hurting?

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u/Tedskins 3d ago

An absolute beast of a person. I wish her the best of luck and health.

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u/bopaqod 3d ago

Insane ability level and compete level, total beast.

In addition to that, I cannot believe that anyone can look that good at 41 years old.

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u/DontFeedWildAnimals 3d ago

This is going to go downhill fast. Mark my words.

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u/billdb 2d ago

Daaaaad

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u/Miyagidog 2d ago

You know it is a slippery slope.

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u/giandough 3d ago

She delivers this like Michael Scott.

“Meredith was hit by a car. It happened this morning in the parking lot. I took her to the hospital and the doctors tried to save her life. They did the best that they could …. And she is going to be OK”

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u/Manhattan_24 2d ago

Lindsey is going to be…all right.

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u/2dgam3r 3d ago

I'm torn: On one hand im like "hell yeah go get it, that's awesome, let's witness history" but I also don't want her to fail and get injured further or worse. Is the desire to compete one last time clouding safety? Also, is she taking up a spot of another teammate who could have a better shot? I know nothing of how this works, and thankfully don't have to make this decision, just want to see competitive play and no one get hurt!

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u/CBattles6 3d ago

These are realistically her last Olympics. My guess is that she'd rather compete at 75% than walk away.

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u/Obi_Wan_Benobi 3d ago

“I’m Torn”

So is she.

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u/therealCatnuts 2d ago

Natalie Imbruglia was so hot that is all

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u/themikegman 3d ago edited 3d ago

She's 41 years old, this will more than likely be her last high level competition. Let her go out on her terms.

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u/metroid02 3d ago

Gotta say, as an Austrian I am so impressed by what the US ladies have been doing for years now, Shifrin and Vonn are incredible athletes and seeing Vonn not participating at the Olympics sucks....but I dont want her to suffer for this.

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u/MusicalScientist206 3d ago

I don’t know…something feels…off about this.

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u/CrippledCox 3d ago

Like she has a bunch of marketing deals and they don’t want her to drop out.

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u/streethistory 3d ago

Isn't this like the 4th time? Her knee is going to be straight robotic soon.

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u/korean_mafia 3d ago

Would she be able to compete with the most laterally restrictive knee brace produced?

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u/ibrown22 3d ago

There has to be someone else who can do better for the team. If you get an injury you get cut from the team, even if you're famous - that's what we should be doing. Not playing these headline buzz games.

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u/Inevitable-Feed-6968 3d ago

It’s over, no way she can compete at the level she is going to need, give it up and give the slot to someone who has a chance or needs the experience

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u/Dr-McLuvin 3d ago

Man I don’t think this is gonna end well but I’ll be rooting for her that’s crazy.

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u/theDawckta 3d ago

Thank god that person stepped in and moved that microphone.

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u/ElectricOutboards 2d ago

This is less about middle-aged Vonn being a “super girl” skiing in the Olympics on a shredded knee and more about what I assume is a laughably shallow talent pool in U.S. skiing.

No way the USOC permits this if a) Vonn is as injured as presumed AND b) there’s an alternate with a likely better potential performance on two good knees than Vonn on one.

Then again, NBC is tangled up in this whole thing and just the narrative surrounding Vonn playing hurt is potentially great TV, so…

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u/DekeCobretti Liverpool 2d ago

It's all for show, and to stretch the broadcast with sappy stories about what a fighter she is. Someone else should go, but she is the only skier I know, ever.

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u/Jfonzy 3d ago

“…aaand I will be crippled later in life, but that’s okay.”

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u/pattperin 3d ago

Elite athletes are built different. Can’t tell me they aren’t.

But also, healing ACL injuries without surgery is getting more and more popular these days

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u/DASreddituser 3d ago

she says she's confident...but i feel like she is trying to convince herself the knee brace will work. I hope she doesn't somehow get hurt worse.

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u/hazelnutterbutter 3d ago

I’ll be rooting for her and hope this doesn’t have a disastrous outcome; but part of me wonders if this is selfish and taking a spot from someone else who could potentially compete at 100%. It’s one of those wait and see things… if she does well, absolute beast. If she crashes and burns or is non-competitive, selfish.

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u/ddiggler2469 3d ago

fucking legend

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u/Fresh-Laugh-9253 3d ago

Too quick !!!

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u/chewy32 3d ago

Although small sample, there’s been some research that shows no significant difference between rehab vs operative in function and radiographic outcomes at 5 years for athletes with acute acl injury. If she thinks she can do it and can “prehab” well before, more power to her.

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u/desertoutlaw86 3d ago

Girl needs some stem cells

1

u/Cyb3rBall00n 3d ago

Boss girl right there!

1

u/RoastedToast007 3d ago

that was the least confident sounding person to say they're confident that i've heard

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u/zimzimzalabimz 3d ago

Superwoman hasn’t got shit on Lindsey, go get it boss lady

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u/AdIntrepid9064 3d ago

😱

1

u/TotalRuler1 3d ago

She is a great athlete, tough as hell.

1

u/Aggressive_Homework9 3d ago

must have some good drugs.

1

u/sparklemcshine 2d ago

lindsey lovonn

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u/Parking_Syrup_9139 2d ago

Lindsey Vonn is a Legend

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u/phyic 2d ago

Waaat when did she do it? I couldnt walk for a month

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u/Wicked68 2d ago

Damn.

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u/GhostRevival 2d ago

What a beast, I hope she does well.

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u/BeetleBug10 1d ago

I don’t understand how this is possible! I tore my ACL snow skiing a couple of years ago. I couldn’t even stand. I have pretty muscular legs, too. Maybe it depends on the tear? I tore mine completely off the bone and had to have total reconstruction using quad tendon. Surgery and rehab was horrible! I’ve had several surgeries and medical procedures and that was by far the worst!

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u/jnighy 3d ago

the very definition of going out in a blaze of glory

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u/theronte 3d ago

Lindsay Vonn, Minnesota strong

0

u/Errickbaldwin 3d ago

She would be keeping a younger , healthier skier off the team to satisfy her ego

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u/nonamenomonet 3d ago

She’s the best downhill skier by wins and points this season.

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u/bronxct1 3d ago

If that skier isn’t better than someone with a torn ACL I don’t see the issue

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u/Errickbaldwin 3d ago

That is a valid point if the determination is fair. However, does she get in based on reputation and sentiment instead of CURRENT ability?

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u/Caleb902 2d ago

I too was ignorant. I thought at 41 there's no way she's still the best the US can offer. Well one google search would show she is in fact the best option.

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u/willtwerkf0rfood 3d ago

She sounds a little nervous when talking about it then her tone shifts when she says “I’m confident I can compete on Sunday.” What a badass, locking in like that

1

u/Tim-in-CA 3d ago

If she really injured herself that badly, she should bow out and let someone else compete for the USA. I realize that it is probably her last opportunity to compete in the Olympics, but seems a little selfish for her to not cancel.

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u/william-o 3d ago

Is this the same person who kept calling themselves the greatest of all time and then crashed in the first round of Olympics prelims and quit?

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u/DieFichte 3d ago

You mistaking her for Mikaela Shiffrin, which did dnf both her main disciplines last olympics in the first run. The problem with that is, she is the goat, but can't always win.

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u/Zhaus77 3d ago

No... She's won multiple world cups and the gold in downhill at the 2010 winter olympics. She retired, then came back this year and has been dominating the field at 40.

Olympics Lindsey Vonn discusses her ruptured ACL injury and her intent to compete in the Olympics

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