Even an Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn has to deal with online criticism.
Vonn, who tore her ACL during a race late last month, took to social media to applaud several users who apparently questioned the recent injury.
“Lol thanks doc,” Vonn published through X on Saturday, February 7, in response to a sports medicine doctor questioning the status of his injury. “My ACL was fully functional until last Friday. Just because it seems impossible to you, doesn’t mean it’s not possible. And yes, my ACL is 100% torn. Not 80% or 50%. It’s 100% gone.”
Despite the setback, which occurred during a race on Jan. 30, Vonn will compete for a gold medal on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 5:30 a.m. ET.
Lindsey Vonn has the full support of teammate Breezy Johnson at the 2026 Olympics, even as she battles an ACL injury. “There will be six Americans running the downhill training runs and if Lindsey can’t compete … or doesn’t feel competitive enough, others can take her place,” Johnson, 30, wrote via Threads on (…)
The original social media post from Brian Sutterera sports medicine expert from Missouri, questioned the condition of the athlete’s ACL before the accident, stating that if his ACL was torn before the accident he would have an easier time recovering.
“What she’s doing now wouldn’t be that surprising in an elite athlete whose knee was already functioning like her ACL was torn at baseline,” Sutterer said via X. “When you hear stories about ‘so-and-so played for years with a torn ACL,’ that’s chronic, which means the body has time to adapt and train the muscles to support the knee.”
He continued, “Also, someone who had a previous tear or surgery may not be as swollen and painful with a repeat injury. Bottom line, I don’t think this was a bread and butter, fresh ACL tear like everyone is thinking.”
Sutterer responded to Vonn’s comment in her post, doubling down clarifying his original post.
“Any prior ACL injury in this knee? If so, the knee can absolutely learn to compensate in a very functional way,” he said. “I’m not trying to downplay your success, it’s incredibly impressive. As a sports medicine doctor who deals with high-level athletes and everyday people, there are some nuances in how quickly people can function after an ACL tear and that’s what I wonder about as we communicate stories like this to the public. Good luck, I’m really rooting for you.”
Lindsey Vonn wearing a knee brace during an official training session for the women’s downhill event at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games
Tiziana FABI / AFPIndyCar driver Alexander Rossi weighed in on the thread, supporting Vonn in her injury recovery.
“Everybody’s trying to find reasons why you’re doing what they said couldn’t be done,” Rossi posted.
“Facts,” Vonn replied.
The three-time Olympic medalist also commented on USA Today opinion article for Greg Graberwhere he suggested that Vonn is “risking long-term physical repercussions” by competing with the torn ACL, and is “well past” her prime.
Lindsey Vonn isn’t letting anything, not even a catastrophic injury, stand in the way of her miraculous return to the 2026 Winter Olympics. “Well… I completely tore my ACL last Friday,” Vonn, 41, shared via Instagram on Tuesday, February 3. “I also suffered a bone bruise (which is a common injury when you break (…))
“Sorry Greg, but this is a very strange op-ed,” Vonn he commented. “Pain and suffering is the point? Am I looking for meaning? Why am I taking chances ‘at my age?’ These age things are getting very old.”
She continued: “My life doesn’t revolve around ski racing. I’m a woman who loves to ski. I don’t have an identity problem, I know exactly who I am. I was retired for 6 years and I have an amazing life. I don’t need to ski, but I love to ski. I came here for one final Olympics and I’m going to do my best. I don’t know the story, maybe it’s better not to make assumptions.”
After injured his ACL last weekVonn had to be airlifted off the course, but despite the setback she quickly returned working out in the gymhe never wavers in his desire to compete.
“I know what my chances were at these Olympics before this accident, and even though my chances aren’t the same now, there’s still a chance,” Vonn said on Feb. 3. “And as long as I have a chance, I won’t lose hope. I won’t give up! It’s not over yet. Thank you to everyone who has reached out and supported me. I feel the strength and it’s giving me.”