Even an Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn it has to face criticism on the internet.
Vonn – who tore her ACL in a race at the end of last month – took to social media to applaud several users who seemed to question the latest injury.
“lol thanks doc,” Vonn wrote via X on Saturday, February 7, in response to a sports doctor asking about the status of her injury. “My ACL was fully functional until last Friday. Just because it seems impossible to you doesn’t mean it’s impossible. And yes, my ACL is 100% torn. It’s not 80% or 50%. It’s 100% gone.”
Despite the setback, which occurred mid-race on January 30, Vonn will be competing for the gold medal on Sunday, February 8, at 5:30 am ET.
Original social media posts from Brian Sutterera sports medicine specialist in Missouri, asked about the condition of an athlete’s ACL before the accident, and said that if his ACL had been torn before the accident he would have had an easier time recovering.
“What he’s doing now won’t be nearly as surprising for a top-level athlete whose knee was working with an ACL tear early on,” Sutterer said of X. “When you hear stories about ‘playing for years on a torn ACL’, that’s not normal, which means the body has time to adapt and retrain the muscles to support the knee.”
He continued, “Also, someone who has had a previous tear/surgery may not have the inflammation and pain from a repeat injury. Bottom line, I don’t think this was the bread and butter, fresh ACL tear that everyone thinks.”
Sutterer went on to respond to Vonn’s comments on her post, repeating and clarifying her original post.
“Any anterior ACL injury in that knee? If so, the knee can absolutely learn to compensate in a more efficient way,” he said. “I’m not trying to minimize what you’ve accomplished, it’s amazing. As a sports medicine doctor who cares for elite athletes every day, there’s a misconception about how quickly people can function after an ACL tear and that’s what I want to know as we pass stories like this to the public. Fortunately, I’m focused on you.”
Lindsey Vonn wearing a knee brace during official training for the women’s downhill event during the 2026 Winter Olympic Games
Tiziana FABI / AFPIndyCar driver Alexander Rossi she got on the phone, supporting Vonn in her injury recovery.
“Everybody trying to find reasons why they did what they said couldn’t be done,” Rossi wrote.
“Facts,” Vonn replied.
The three-time Olympic medalist also commented on USA Today opinion article by Greg Graberwhere he suggested that Vonn was “risking the long-term physical effects” of competing with a torn ACL, and that she had “passed” her prime.
Lindsey Vonn isn’t letting anything – not even a catastrophic injury – stop her from her miraculous return to the 2026 Winter Olympics. I completely tore my ACL last Friday,” Vonn, 41, shared on Instagram on Tuesday, February 3. “I also had a bone injury (which is a common injury when you tear […]
“I’m sorry Greg but this is a very strange idea,” Vonn commented. I want an explanation, why am I risking myself ‘at my age?’ This aging thing is really getting old.”
She continued, “My life is not related to skiing. I am a woman who loves to ski. I have no identity, I know exactly who I am. I retired for 6 years and I have a wonderful life. I don’t need to ski, but I love to ski. I came all this way to the last Olympics and I’m not going to do the best, ACL or do it. Respectfully, if you don’t know the story, it might be better not to guess.”
After injuring her ACL last week, Vonn had to be airlifted out of the course, but despite the setback she quickly returned to training in the gym, never wavering in her desire to compete.
“I know what my chances are in these Olympics before this accident, and even though my chances are not equal now, there is still a chance,” Vonn said on February 3. “And as long as I still have a chance, I will not give up. I will not give up hope! It is not over. I thank everyone who has helped me and supported me. I feel the love and it gives me strength.”
