Lindsey Vonn is defending her decision to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics after tearing her ACL, responding directly to critics who said she should have given up her place on the team.
The 41-year-old skier shared a detailed Instagram post on February 21, from her hospital bed, weeks after crashing just 13 seconds into the women’s downhill final on February 8 at the Winter Games. The crash left Vonn with a complex tibia fracture that has required five surgeries.
Vonn said she “wanted to recap my season for all the haters out there that didn’t understand what it means to earn your spot.” Her post included video highlights from World Cup races in St. Moritz, Val d’Isère, Zauchensee, and Tarvisio, where she finished on the podium throughout the season.
“It wasn’t all for nothing… it wasn’t a dream… although sitting in this hospital bed it seems far away now… But I did it,” Vonn wrote.
She added, “I came back. I won. I showed up and did what most thought was impossible at my age with a partial knee replacement. These memories I’ll have forever, and I’m grateful for every one of them. Every moment was amazing. Every moment was worth it.”
Vonn said the criticism intensified after she tore her ACL one week before the Olympics and still chose to compete. “One thing that stung was when people said I was selfish and should give my Olympic spot to someone else,” she wrote. “So… I just wanted to recap my season for all the haters out there that didn’t understand what it means to earn your spot, and on a more positive note, to just reflect…”
She then outlined her 2025–26 campaign: “#1 in the downhill standings. 3rd in [Super-G] standings. 2x Downhill wins. On every downhill podium all season. 7/8 podiums overall (only one 4th place). It’s not impossible until it’s done. I didn’t reach my ultimate goal…. But I still did a lot. Thank you to those who believed! ❤️🙏🏻”
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After the crash, Vonn underwent four surgeries in Italy to stabilize her leg before returning to the United States.
Lindsey Vonn Reveals Message To Rafael Nadal Following His Skiing Comeback
In a separate social media moment, Rafael Nadal shared that he recently returned to skiing for the first time in 26 years.
The 39-year-old legend retired from professional tennis in 2024 after winning 22 Grand Slam singles titles. Throughout his career, the Spaniard managed chronic injuries, including Mueller Weiss syndrome, a degenerative condition affecting the navicular bone in his foot.
Posting about the experience, Nadal wrote: “After 26 years… what an incredible feeling to ski again!” Vonn responded in the comments section: “We have to ski together when I’m healthy!”
🎿⛷️😃
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) February 21, 2026
After 26 years… what an incredible feeling to ski again! pic.twitter.com/1b5vhadUOA
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Nadal’s return to skiing comes during his first full year away from competitive tennis, while Vonn remains hospitalized as she continues treatment and rehabilitation following her Olympic crash.
