Devastating. That’s the word that comes to mind after what happened to Lindsey Vonn on January 16, 2025. Lindsey Vonn, after making such a return to alpine skiing following her knee replacement in 2024, was really on a roll. Despite warnings from former athletes about the risks of returning after five years off, and with multiple knee surgeries, Vonn was determined to make it work. But then, during the opening training run at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in Cortina d’Ampezzo, things took a turn.

As she approached the final section, Vonn crashed. She somehow managed to ski to the bottom of the course, but it was clear something wasn’t right. After receiving attention in the medical tent, things seemed concerning. A post from Brian Pinelli on X gave an update, showing Vonn struggling to walk. He shared a photo with the caption, “Lindsey Vonn a short while after crashing approaching the bottom of the course in her opening training run in Cortina. Didn’t look too bad & she was able to ski to the bottom afterwards. However, LV appears to be in some discomfort and is being attended to in the medical tent.”

Here’s hoping it’s not as bad as it looks, but it’s a harsh reminder of how quickly things can change in sports. But for now, it seems like Lindsey Vonn has her eyes on racing the downhill on Saturday and the Super G on Sunday, both on the Olympia delle Tofane course, where she’s already bagged 12 wins. Just last weekend, she finished sixth in St Anton, where she made her downhill comeback and followed it up with a fourth place in the Super G. It’s honestly crazy when you think about how much she’s been through.

Knee replacements, ankle surgeries, and even a plate and 18 screws in her arm. After her 2024 knee replacement, she was back on the slopes, skiing pain-free. And remember, she retired in 2019 because of knee pain, only to come back at 40 after all those surgeries. But after seeing her crash recently, it’s clear that her comeback wasn’t without its risks. She had been warned by former athletes that returning after all the surgeries could be dangerous, but that didn’t stop her.

Lindsey Vonn’s comeback meets resistance from retired skiers

When Lindsey Vonn made her comeback to alpine skiing, she didn’t exactly get the warmest reception from some of her fellow retired athletes. Pirmin Zurbriggen, a four-time overall World Cup champion, expressed serious concerns, warning that there was a risk Vonn could “tear her artificial knee to pieces.” He added that if that happened, she might not be able to do any sport properly for the rest of her life. Zurbriggen even suggested that Vonn hadn’t fully accepted life after skiing and might have struggled with no longer being the celebrated champion she once was. His comments were harsh, and others joined in with similar warnings.

Austrian downhill legend Franz Klammer called her decision to return to racing “completely mad,” while two-time Olympic champion Michaela Dorfmeister went even further, questioning if Vonn was trying to “kill herself” and suggesting she needed to see a psychologist. The comments seemed to stem from genuine concern, but Vonn didn’t back down. She responded on social media, saying she was tired of people predicting negative things about her future and questioning their qualifications, especially since they weren’t doctors. Vonn was firm, defending her decision and her ability to make her own choices despite the doubts from others.