Back in Cortina d'Ampezzo: How is Lindsey Vonn and her knee doing? © ANSA / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

The Queen and her knee: Vonn electrifies the ski world

Lindsey Vonn wouldn't be Lindsey Vonn if the final leg of her remarkable journey didn't still hold plenty of drama in store.

February 03, 2026

From: dpa/sn

The queen of skiing is back at her beloved Cortina d'Ampezzo. In Cortina d'Ampezzo, where she had so many formative experiences and where no one has won as often as she has, the American aims to definitively crown her already dazzling career. Vonn could become the biggest star of these Winter Olympics in Italy. Provided her knee holds up.

She was giving her "best," the 41-year-old had said after her crash in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. The ski world held its breath when the long-time speed queen fell in the last downhill race before the Games, which run from February 6 to 22, and crashed into a safety net. Vonn managed to ski across the finish line, but was subsequently airlifted to the hospital by helicopter. As she announced on Tuesday, she suffered a torn cruciate ligament in the process.

Lindsey Vonn crashed on Saturday in Crans-Montana. © ANSA / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

The images alone provided enough material for the next potential heroine story. Vonn, the fighter. Will she strike back once again after her sensational World Cup comeback? On the biggest stage in world sport. If her knee holds up, she's the overwhelming favorite in Sunday's Olympic downhill (11:30 a.m.).

Speed ​​Queen even outshines Shiffrin

Vonn has already celebrated twelve victories in Cortina d'Ampezzo. In 2004, she first reached the podium, finishing third in the downhill race in the Dolomites. While her 84 World Cup wins have been surpassed by her compatriot Mikaela Shiffrin (108), her star power remains. Vonn, the superstar. More than 2,5 million Instagram followers, lucrative endorsement deals, a cover story in Time magazine. Vonn electrifies. And she polarizes.

When she returned to the World Cup in December 2024 after a nearly six-year hiatus, the American had to endure a lot of criticism – some of it quite borderline, according to experts. Vonn explained that this was stressful, but also a motivator. And when she finished second in the last race of the preseason in Sun Valley, it was clear: the speed queen was back.

Will the Olympic dream be shattered after all?

Well, just before the Games open on Friday, this setback. Vonn, who has been plagued by numerous injuries throughout her career, already plays with a partial knee replacement – ​​her right one, that is. This time it's her left knee. Could this possibly shatter her dream of a crowning career finale?

The extent of Vonn's injury is unknown. © ANSA / ALESSANDRO DELLA VALLE

She probably wouldn't have dared to make her much-anticipated comeback if the Games – her fifth already – weren't being held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Vonn revealed. This picturesque town in the Dolomites holds a special place in her heart, explained the oldest World Cup winner in alpine skiing history. Something always draws her back there. In this case, perhaps a bit of satisfaction. But certainly, the hunger for gold.