Kylie Drunasky | Student Life Editor
February 18, 2026
Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn, representing the United States, crashed during the beginning of her run on Sunday, resulting in a tibia fracture in her left leg. What makes this incident unique to any other injury is that Vonn was already competing with a torn ACL. After tearing it just a week before the Olympics, many wondered how she could have possibly gotten back on the slopes in a matter of days. Fortunately for Vonn, her initial tear did not result in the high swelling that would normally result from such an injury, allowing her knee to remain more stable. Skiing as a sport additionally allows more of an ability to compete through such an injury. Her ski boot limits movement in her ankle, which provides support to her injury, and skiing does not require quick direction change like football, soccer, or basketball. Given the fact that Vonn is a three time Olympic medalist, she is also a highly trained athlete, making her more likely to bounce back stronger than any ordinary person.
Still, many debates occurred when Vonn announced she would continue to compete. As with any injury, there is always the risk of making it worse. Which, unfortunately for Vonn’s case, became reality. Not only that, but many worry that Vonn set a dangerous and unrealistic example for younger athletes. Although keeping her determination to reach her goals can seem encouraging, it may only push athletes to play through their injuries and avoid getting the recovery they need. In general, an ACL tear would require months of recovery and even surgery. Vonn is defying those expectations, but that does not mean that any other athlete can do that, specifically younger athletes.
For junior Sydney Hernandez, recovering from her ACL tear was “a year-long rehab that took time and patience.” Hernandez mentioned “using electrodes to ‘wake up’ [her] quad muscle” to eventually be able to bend and straighten her knee again. Following that came with more exercises that “would lead up to complete strength training for the next 7 months.” Hernandez’s tough journey highly contrasts with Vonn’s response to her own ACL tear. In the end, Hernandez has recovered, and is actively playing for SCHS’s Varsity Girl’s soccer team, while Vonn is recovering from an additional injury.
However, Vonn herself stated that her fracture is separate from her ACL tear, and is mainly due to her impact with the flag on her run down the slopes. It is believed that she hooked the gate at a high speed, causing her body to twist and crash. Based on her own experience, Sydney Hernandez claimed “it is not worth rushing back into any sport with the possibility of getting hurt even more.” Additionally, junior Ryan Cuenca, who plays for SCHS Varsity Girl’s volleyball, argued that Vonn competing “despite her pain ultimately led her to become even more hurt and limited USA’s chance of getting a gold medal.”
Despite this tragic end for the talented Lindsey Vonn and the hope USA had for her in the Olympics, she stated that she “had no regrets” for the “incredible feeling that [she] will never forget” on Sunday before her run.
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