It’s been a wild week for one of the greatest ski racers in the history of the sport and she has taken a moment amongst the chaos to compose her thoughts leading into the final Olympic race of her career.
Lindsey Vonn crashed at the Crans-Montana World Cup on January 30th and was taken off course by helicopter to a local hospital where an evaluation revealed she had ruptured her ACL. Ever the fighter, Lindsey never gave up on her dream of competing at Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and successfully completed a training run where she looked incredible given the circumstances.
With less than 24 hours before she takes to the starting gates, Lindsey shared the following words:
Lindsey Vonn:
Tomorrow: One last Olympic downhill run…
Just getting to these Olympics has been a journey, and one that some did not believe in from the start. I retired for 6 years, and because of a partial knee replacement, I had the chance to compete one more time.
But why? Everyone seems to be asking me that question. But I think the answer is simple… I just love ski racing.
I am not unsure about life outside of sport. I am not searching for meaning or for attention or money. I know exactly who I am and I know exactly what I am made of. I am the product of amazing parents who showed me that hard work and determination pays off. My Mother, who is watching over me, taught me the power of positivity and resilience. My Father, who will be watching in the stands with my family and friends, taught me hard work and mental toughness.
I will stand in the starting gate tomorrow and know I am strong. Know that I believe in myself. Know that the odds are stacked against me with my age, no ACL, and a titanium knee- but know that I still believe. And usually, when the odds are stacked against me the most, I pull the best of what’s inside me out.
I will race tomorrow in my final Olympic Downhill and while I can’t guarantee a good result, I can guarantee I will give it everything I have. But no matter what happens, I have already won.
The outpouring of love and support over the past few days has been overwhelming in the best way. It has given me energy and helped me more than I can describe. Thank you
I believe
-Lindsey Vonn
