Lindsey Vonn, the celebrated alpine skier and three-time Olympic medalist, is gearing up for her fifth and final Olympic appearance at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. At 41, and after a hiatus from the Olympics since 2018, Vonn faces an additional challenge after rupturing her ACL just a week prior to the competition while training in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Despite this setback, she remains a focal point of attention as she aims to compete in the women’s downhill and Super-G events.
In a recent training session that ended in injury, Vonn lost control while executing a jump, leading to a crash into safety nets. Her recovery and readiness to compete are now the subjects of much scrutiny. On a positive note, the opening downhill training scheduled for Thursday has been canceled due to heavy snowfall, providing Vonn more time to try to heal.
Her Olympic schedule includes two downhill training sessions on February 6 and 7, with her participation in the pivotal downhill final on February 8 hinging on her ability to complete at least one training session. Following that, the women’s Super-G final is set for February 12.
Vonn’s illustrious Olympic history includes a gold medal in downhill and a bronze in Super-G from the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, along with another bronze in downhill from the 2018 PyeongChang Games. This year’s events will be hosted at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina, a location renowned for its picturesque backdrops and challenging courses.
The differences between the downhill and Super-G disciplines are notable; while downhill skiing is the speed event where skiers can exceed 95 mph with only one run on an extensive course, Super-G offers a blend of speed and a need for agility due to its widely spaced gates, also allowing just one run for competitors.
For fans eager to watch Vonn and the alpine skiing events, coverage will be available on NBC New York and the USA Network, with streaming options on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com.
Vonn previously shared her mixed emotions about the geographical separation of Olympic sports in Milan-Cortina compared to past Olympics where athletes were closer together, explaining that while she enjoys being in Cortina, it limits the camaraderie outside of competition. Nonetheless, her resolve to race through injury exemplifies her dedication and passion for the sport.
As she prepares to face both her competitors and her own challenges, Vonn’s story serves as an inspiring testament to resilience and the spirit of the Olympic Games.