Lindsey Vonn hits the slopes at the 2026 Winter Olympics for the first time with her torn ACL

Milan, Italy — American star Lindsay Vonn participated in an official Olympic training event for women’s alpine skiing on Friday, stepping onto the slopes of the Winter Games for the first time. after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament when he crashed in a World Cup race in the Swiss Alps a week ago.

Friday’s race was the first official downhill training to take place before the Games, after an event scheduled for Thursday was canceled due to weather. It was briefly delayed by weather concerns before resuming.

Vonn completed the race without any apparent problems. Her first competitive Olympic event, the women’s downhill, is programmed for Sunday.

“I haven’t cried. I haven’t deviated from my plan.” Vonn told reporters at a press conference Tuesday while discussing her injury. “Normally, in the past, there’s always a moment when you break down and realize how serious things are and how your dreams are slipping through your fingers. But this time I didn’t have that. I’m not going to let this slip through my fingers. I will. End of story.”

Fellow American Olympic Alpine Skiers told News themezone on Thursday they believed your teammate He was still able to compete despite his injury.

“If anyone can get out of this, if anyone can do it, it’s Lindsey,” said U.S. team skier Isabella Wright as a group of American athletes trained at a gym in Cortina, in the Dolomites of far northern Italy, where alpine events are held.

“If it’s your last Games and you know, you probably already have a lot of damage to your knee, then there’s not much to lose,” Vonn’s teammate Breezy Johnson told News themezone.

Jacqueline Wiles, who has skied with Vonn before, described her as “definitely one of the toughest.”

“I think any time you’re injured, trying to get over that injury while you’re still competing, as the season goes on, it can definitely go to your head,” Wiles said. “But she’s been through it more than anyone.”