Key Insights

• Lindsey Vonn is determined to compete despite her injury.
• ACL Injury: She confirmed her ACL is completely ruptured.
• Doctor’s Doubt: A sports medicine doctor questioned the nature of her injury.
• Support from Peers: IndyCar driver Alexander Rossi backed her up in the discussion.

Lindsey Vonn is hitting back.

During a race last month, the 41-year-old skier tore the ACL in her knee, but she still plans on competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Ahead of her event on Sunday (February 8), a sports medicine doctor from Missouri took to X to question Lindsey‘s injury.

Keep reading to find out more…“What she is doing now would not be nearly as surprising in an elite athlete whose knee was already functioning like the ACL was torn at baseline,” Brian Sutterer wrote. “When you hear stories about ‘so and so played for years on a torn ACL’, that’s chronic, meaning the body has time to adapt and retrain muscles to support the knee.”

He continued, “Also, someone who had a prior tear/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.”

Lindsey caught wind of the doctor doubting her injury and decided to clap back.

“lol thanks doc. My ACL was fully functioning until last Friday,” she wrote. “Just because it seems impossible to you doesn’t mean it’s not possible. And yes, my ACL is 100% ruptured. Not 80% or 50%. It’s 100% gone.”

Sutterer responded to Lindsey‘s comments by doubling down.

“Any prior ACL injuries in that knee? If so, the knee can absolutely learn to compensate in a very functional way,” he wrote. “I’m not trying to minimize your accomplishment, it’s insanely impressive. As a sports medicine doctor who takes care of high level athletes and every day folks, there is some nuance in how quickly people can function after an ACL tear and that’s what I’m curious about as we communicate stories like this to the public. Best of luck, I truly am rooting for you.”

IndyCar driver Alexander Rossi chimed into the conversation and supported Lindsey.

“Everyone trying to find reasons why you’re doing what they said couldn’t be done,” Alexander wrote, to which Lindsey responded, “Facts.”

In the leadup to the 2026 Winter Olympics, there was a salacious new scandal emerging in the news that’s been dubbed “Penisgate.”