How Lindsey Vonn’s Earlier ACL Tear Positioned the Right Doctor to Save Her Leg

“And not to like take blame away from me for actually crashing, but at the same time, like it was kind of weird how everything worked out the way it did. So that was what I got. That was the draw. So yeah, it was good luck and bad luck at the same time.” She added.

The three-time Olympic medalist crashed just 13 seconds into her event at the Winter Olympics and suffered a complex tibia fracture. The injury becomes even more unfortunate after knowing that she led the World Cup downhill standings and hadn’t finished worse than fourth in any race.

The 41-year-old has already endured eight surgeries since February 8. The injury was severe enough that doctors warned her leg was at serious risk.

Lindsey Vonn had returned to the sport after a six-year absence to specifically compete at Milan-Cortina, a favored course.

Naturally, Vonn is not ready to decide on her future yet, still processing the aftermath of her scary crash at the Olympics.

Lindsey Vonn Has Not Ruled Out Return to Racing After Milan-Cortina Injury

The good news is that Vonn is no longer using a wheelchair and is working her way off crutches, but there is still a long road ahead if she even wants to think about returning, including repairing her ACL that she tore just nine days before Milan-Cortina.

“I just don’t want to jump to any conclusions or even speculate on what I might do,” Vonn said. “I may retire, I may never race again, and that would be completely fine, but I’m not in a position emotionally to make that decision at this point.” The 41-year-old told the Associated Press on 29th April.

While Vonn has returned from a plethora of injuries before in her career, this one is different. She endured eight surgeries, just one fewer than the total she underwent for all her other injuries combined.

“I don’t want to close any doors because I don’t know where my path is headed at this moment,” said Vonn. “But I know that if I applied myself, and I was healthy enough to do it, that I could probably still be fast even at ​45.”

Even though the return chapter of Vonn’s career ended abruptly, she remains the second-most successful female World Cup skier of all time, behind her compatriot Mikaela Shiffrin, and has not completely ruled out a return to racing.

So, do you think Vonn should keep her faith alive for a return or finally call it a day on her illustrious skiing career?