Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn was scheduled to be at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but her participation at the event has been in question since Vonn suffered a crash on Friday, January 30, during a World Cup race in Switzerland. Now, the question is whether Vonn will be able to compete at the Olympics, which begins next week and has its opening ceremony is set for Friday, February 6, at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy.
Vonn, 41, was scheduled to compete in downhill and super-G at Crans Montana before her fifth Olympic Games, according to the official Olympics website. This latest injury is far from Vonn’s first, as the site notes, “Vonn, who is set to compete at her fifth Olympic Games, has shown consistency in her celebrated return to competition after a partial knee replacement, reaching the podium in all five downhill World Cups this season. That streak includes victories at the season opener in St. Moritz and most recently at Zauchensee.”
So, will Vonn compete in the Olympics when they kick off on February 6? Now, the alpine skier has shared some news about whether she’s planning to compete in the Milan Cortina Olympics through her personal coach, Chris Knight.
Lindsey Vonn News as Olympics Approach
Vonn is not participating in a World Cup super-G race on Saturday, January 31, following crashing and injuring her left on Friday, January 30, but that doesn’t mean she’s out of the Olympics. Her personal head coach shared exclusive news with The Associated Press, stating that Vonn still plans to compete in the Olympics.
“No she is not racing today but preparing for Cortina as usual,” Knight shared in a text message with The AP.
Vonn also took to social media to share the news, stating, “Unfortunately, I won’t be able to race today. Thank you for all of the love and support I have received. Means the world to me.” She added that she is “doing my best right now.”
Vonn still hasn’t shared details of her injury, but following the incident, she took to social media to give an update about how she’s doing and explain the situation.
“I crashed today in the downhill race in Switzerland and injured my left knee,” Vonn wrote on social media on Friday. “I am discussing the situation with my doctors and team and will continue to undergo further exams.”
Lindsey Vonn Has Been Competing Since She Was 17
Vonn has been competing as an alpine skier since she was 17 years old, so at 41, she’s used to getting injured on the hills. But, it certainly doesn’t make it any easier or pain-free.
“In Salt Lake City, she finished sixth in the combined and 32nd in the slalom,” the official Olympics website states of her journey. “Two years later, Vonn cemented her position in the elite, stepping onto the downhill podium for the first time.”
They add, “The following season, she scored her first downhill win in the opening race of the campaign, in Lake Louise (CAN) in December 2004. Becoming a specialist in speed events, she also won her first points in the technical events, allowing her to climb the World Cup standings.”
Lindsey Vonn Shares Major News After Olympic Skier’s Injury