‘My Olympic Dream Is Not Over’: Will Lindsey Vonn Overcome Injury for a 2026 Comeback?

With the 2026 Winter Olympics kicking off next week in Italy, fans are already anticipating what’s in store for those representing the United States. Over the years, the impressive athletes at the forefront of these games—most of whom have dedicated their entire lives to their sport—have filled viewers at home with pride and passion as they watched them give it their all. Now, with folks already looking ahead at who might be standing up on those podiums in a few short days, a few athletes already have people talking—one of those being Lindsey Vonn. The 41-year-old alpine ski racer has won three Olympic medals over the course of her career: one gold and two bronze. After a temporary retirement in 2019, Lindsey Vonn was in her comeback era, ready to let the world know that she was back and better than ever at the 2026 Winter Olympics—but an injury at a World Cup event just a week before the Games has fans wondering if we’ll see her participate. Here, read all about Lindsey Vonn’s crash and what her chances of competing in Italy might be this year.

All about Lindsey Vonn

Lindsey Vonn’s skiing career began when she was a child, and years of training and endless dedication have allowed her to achieve the level of success she has. According to the US Ski and Snowboard website, she is “the only American woman to capture downhill gold at the Olympics, has 82 World Cup victories, 138 World Cup podiums, seven World Championship medals, and 20 World Cup titles (including four Overall World Cup Crystal Globes).”

In 2019, however, Vonn stepped away from the sport she grew up with—the physical impact taking an intense toll on her body. “A large portion of cartilage that had delaminated from my bone was removed. My crash in Lake Louise last year was much more painful than I let on, but I continued to race because I wanted to win a medal in the Olympics for my late grandfather,” Vonn wrote on Instagram back in 2019 when she announced her retirement. “Again, I rehabbed my way back this summer and I felt better than I had in a long time. Then I crashed in Copper this November and injured my left knee, tearing my LCL plus sustaining 3 fractures. Despite extensive therapy, training and a knee brace, I am not able to make the turns necessary to compete the way I know I can. My body is broken beyond repair and it isn’t letting me have the final season I dreamed of. My body is screaming at me to STOP and it’s time for me to listen.”

Lindsey Vonn makes her comeback

In the spring of 2024, Vonn underwent a partial knee replacement that gave her a piece of her old life back. Soon enough, the physical tasks that caused her anguish on the daily were as easy as they had once been. Back in March, she placed second at the World Cup Finals in Sun Valley, Idaho, and recently, her journey toward the Olympics has been her main priority. However, a crash just days before she was set to compete has left folks wondering if we’ll see her out there on the snow

Lindsey Vonn’s injury may halt her Olympic ambitions

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While participating in a World Cup race in Switzerland this morning, Lindsey Vonn and fellow competitors found themselves up against difficult conditions, with visibility limited and a less-than-smooth course. As Vonn attempted to land a jump, the alpine skier lost control, crashing and injuring her  knee. Vonn was seen gripping her knee before entering a medical tent for evaluation, and she was ultimately airlifted away. The US Ski and Snowboard Team made a brief statement on the matter on X, saying, “Lindsey Vonn fell in the Crans Montana downhill and is being evaluated,” but the 41-year-old Olympian took to social media to share an update of her own—and fans are hoping she can pull through to compete on February 8 as anticipated. 

“I crashed today in the Downhill race in Switzerland and injured my left knee,” she wrote in a post shared to Instagram. “I am discussing the situation with my doctors and team and will continue to undergo further exams. This is a very difficult outcome one week before the Olympics…but if there’s one thing I know how to do, it’s a comeback. My Olympic dream is not over. Thank you for all of the love and support. I will give more information when I have it. Thank you to all the medical staff who helped me today. I am grateful for all the incredible help I received.”

Whether or not we’ll see Lindsey Vonn on the slopes next week is a mystery, but if anyone knows about overcoming odds, it’s this champion!