Lindsey Vonn's coach, Aksel Lund Svindal, has expressed strong confidence that the American skiing legend can still win an Olympic medal in Sunday's women's downhill event in Cortina, despite suffering a ruptured ACL just over a week ago. Vonn's participation had been in serious doubt after the injury occurred during a World Cup event in Crans-Montana, but she has since completed two training runs, with Svindal highlighting her formidable mental fortitude as the key factor.
Training Runs Provide Optimistic Signs
After successfully navigating a training session on Friday, Vonn returned to the slopes for a second practice run on Saturday. While her performance was not flawless, Svindal, an Olympic downhill champion himself, viewed it as a positive and encouraging step forward. He noted that Vonn appeared remarkably calm and focused during her descent, which he interprets as a sign she feels in control of the situation.
Mental Strength and Experience as Critical Assets
"She was very calm when she came down. She talked about skiing and was calm and didn’t talk about the knee at all. And then I didn’t want to ask either, because I figured that’s a good sign," Svindal observed. He elaborated on her mindset, stating, "How I’ve learned to know her is when she’s calm it means she feels like she has it under control." The coach acknowledged the immense challenge ahead, emphasizing that Vonn will need to push harder on race day against a competitive field.
Svindal also pointed to Vonn's extensive experience, noting she is now 41 years old, as a crucial advantage. "Good enough to win this race, hopefully. But her mental strength, I think that’s why she has won as much as she has," he stated. This mental resilience will be vital as she aims for further Olympic glory at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre, marking what would be a remarkable comeback story.
A Remarkable Comeback Journey
Vonn, who was crowned downhill champion at Vancouver 2010, initially retired from the sport in 2019 following a series of injuries. However, after undergoing a partial knee replacement in April 2024, she made a competitive return in December of the same year. This season, she has already secured two World Cup victories and numerous podium finishes, positioning her as a strong contender before her recent fall in Switzerland.
Coach's Nerves Shift to Race Day Focus
With two training runs now completed, Svindal's focus has shifted from concern about injury to anticipation for the race. "I’m different nervous (about) tomorrow. Yesterday, I was nervous that something would happen. Tomorrow, it’s race day. Obviously, you don’t want anything to happen to her, but you also want her to be fast," he explained. This transition from hoping for safety to aiming for speed underscores the high stakes of the Olympic event.
Teammate and Competitor Perspectives
While much attention will be on Vonn, her teammate Breezy Johnson, the reigning downhill world champion, also has her own history of injuries. Commenting on Vonn’s Saturday run, Johnson noted, "I watched her knee cave in off one of those rollers and I think everybody kind of gasped a little bit." She added, "I’m maybe the only person on this slope that’s ever actually raced it with a torn ACL, so I know it’s quite difficult off those jumps. I wish her the best and I’m glad she’s safe."
Highly Competitive Field Awaits
The field for Sunday’s downhill is exceptionally competitive, featuring several top contenders. Home favourite Sofia Goggia is aiming for her third consecutive Olympic downhill medal after winning in Pyeongchang in 2018 and taking silver in Beijing. German duo Emma Aicher and Kira Weidle-Winkelmann are also key contenders, alongside Switzerland’s Corinne Suter, who claimed victory four years ago. This adds to the pressure and excitement surrounding Vonn's bid for a medal despite her injury setback.
