The fact that she even made it to the starting line in Cortina was a pretty remarkable feat in itself. She tore her ACL in the final race a week before the Olympics. If it wasn't the Olympics, which was the entire point of her comeback to begin with, she probably would've called it a season and not even tried to race on it. But it was the Olympics and this is Lindsey Vonn, so it was no surprise that she was gonna do everything she could to compete.
It's ridiculous that people are criticizing her for racing with a busted knee and assuming it had anything to do with her crash. Lindsey Vonn herself, when providing an update to her followers on social media, make it clear exactly what happened. She got too close to the gate, her arm got caught, and it sent her flying. It's just something that can happen if you make a mistake while going 70 mph down a mountain! If she was perfectly healthy, she could've had the same crash and still broken her leg.
And it's just as irresponsible to blame the doctors and coaches for allowing her to compete (as if she didn't have the final say). If they didn't think she should compete or that it would do further damage if she tried, they would've told her that. The fact that they cleared her was a pretty clear indication that it was fine. (Once your ACL's off, it's off.)
She was also required to complete at least one training run in order to even enter the Olympic Downhill. She completed two, looking like her old self in the process. So, clearly the knee wasn't an issue. If it was, she wouldn't have even been able to finish the training runs (or she wouldn't have been cleared to continue). That narrative is simply incorrect.
In fact, I'd argue that the fact she was even in the starting gate is just another example of her incredible resilience. Whether it was a wise thing to do or not isn't even relevant. The fact remains she suffered a torn ACL a week before the Olympics, yet was there on race day as a medal contender. When she crashed on Jan. 30, nobody expected to see her in Cortina. Nobody except Lindsey Vonn. So maybe we should've. Because when Lindsey Vonn sets her mind to something, she'll likely do everything she can to do it.
Just think about the story it would've been if this actually did have a storybook ending, too. She retired because of injuries. At the 2022 Olympics, she was working for NBC! Then, eight years after her "last race," at age 41, Lindsey Vonn was back and making a run at another Olympics...where she was a legitimate medal contender! That alone was a great story. Now imagine if she had medaled?!
If it were up to NBC, that's exactly what would've happened. She would've won the gold medal. Not been screaming in pain and taken from the course in a helicopter. Then she would've teamed with Mikaela Shiffrin in the team combined and they would've won the gold together. America's two alpine skiing darlings. It would've been ratings gold!
Sports don't always work that way, though. The script was already written. NBC would show the Super Bowl, then everyone would stick around to watch Lindsey Vonn win an Olympic gold. Fate had other plans, though. And an American woman did win a gold medal in the Downhill after the Super Bowl. It just wasn't the American woman everyone thought or expected. (It was also funny how they changed all of their Olympic promos that aired during the Super Bowl from being about Lindsey Vonn to being about Breezy Johnson.)
Injuries happen. Especially in sports as volatile and dangerous as alpine skiing. Lindsey Vonn knows and understands the risks better than anybody. (She missed the 2014 Olympics due to injury.) For her, it was worth it to come back and make another Olympic run. The fact that it ended the way it didn't change the journey or make it any less valuable. For her part, Vonn has even said she has no regrets.
Whether this is how her Olympic career ends only she knows, but it seems unlikely she'll compete again. I can understand not wanting it to end this way, but recovering from and rehabbing the broken leg won't exactly be a quick process, and she's already 41. In 2030, she'll be 45! Besides, one of the reasons she came back for this Olympics is because she loves that hill in Cortina and has had success there. Can the same be said about the Courchevel and Val d'Isere courses in France, where the next Olympics will be held?
We know what her dad's vote is if he has any say. Alan Kildow was in the stands for Lindsey's accident and spent the night with her in the hospital. He very publicly hopes that this is it. He doesn't want her to attempt another comeback. He's obviously a concerned father, so that's definitely influencing his feelings. But his opinion is shared by many others.
I'm one of those who agrees with her dad. I, frankly, never thought we'd see her at an Olympics again and was shocked when she announced her comeback. But then she came back and was Lindsey Vonn again, as if any of us should've been surprised. She came back for one more Olympics. In Cortina. I think she was planning on retiring again (permanently this time) after the Olympics anyway. So, I'm not sure this injury will change that. (Although, another comeback for 2030 would only add to her remarkable legacy some more.)
So, yes, this is probably the last we've seen of Lindsey Vonn the Ski Racer. It didn't end the way anybody would've wanted, but that's what happens sometimes. The fact that she was there at all, though, is an incredible story of resilience and perseverance. Let's not focus on the end. Let's focus on the journey. And what a journey it's been!
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