ST. MORITZ, Switzerland — Lindsey Vonn, the renowned American ski racer who last competed in the World Cup nearly six years ago amid unrelenting knee pain, made a remarkable comeback last weekend. Now 40 and equipped with a titanium knee, Vonn has left behind the struggles that once brought her to tears and led to her retirement.
During her return to the slopes, Vonn expressed her newfound freedom from discomfort. “The last few years of my career were so much different than they are right now. I’m skiing without thinking about my knee, which I really haven’t done since I first tore my ACL in 2013,” she shared after finishing 14th in a super-G event at St. Moritz. “I’m a little bit older, but honestly I’m a hell of a lot stronger than I once was.”
Her knee replacement surgery, recognized as the first of its kind in World Cup skiing, has sparked discussions about a new perspective on athletic injury recovery. The procedure, performed in April by South Florida orthopedic surgeon Martin Roche, involved robot-assisted technology where significant portions of Vonn’s knee were replaced with titanium components. Just a month later, she was eager to make her racing return.
“I feel amazing. I mean, obviously not everyone responds the same way to surgeries. For some reason, I bounce back pretty well from surgery. But I think it’s something to seriously consider for athletes that have a lot of knee problems,” Vonn emphasized, noting the dramatic improvement over her previous condition, which involved little cartilage.
Typically, knee replacements are associated with older populations, particularly those over 50. According to Andrea Panzeri, the head physician of the Italian Winter Sports Federation, Vonn’s situation is unprecedented in World Cup history as she is one of the youngest athletes to participate post-surgery. “I’m not aware of any other elite-level athletes in other sports competing with one, either,” Panzeri stated.
Despite Panzeri’s expertise in performing knee replacements, he had always regarded the idea of a replacement for a World Cup skier as far-fetched—until Vonn’s recent performance inspired him to rethink the potential. He discussed how partial prosthetics like the ones used in Vonn’s surgery could enhance performance, noting, “I don’t think her decision is going to change pro sports. But it could provide more motivation for so-called ‘normal’ people to try a prosthetic.”
Some notable athletes have faced similar challenges; for instance, three-time Grand Slam tennis champion Andy Murray used an artificial hip later in his career, while Vonn’s former teammate Julia Mancuso also opted for hip surgery after her retirement. Mancuso remarked that she might have considered a return to skiing if not for her children, indicating a shared understanding of Vonn’s passion and drive.
Experts remain cautious about the potential trend of knee replacements in professional skiing. Elan Goldwaser, a sports medicine physician affiliated with the U.S. Ski Team, pointed out that elite athletes rarely consider knee replacements, unlike what has occurred with pitchers opting for Tommy John surgery in baseball. However, he acknowledged that if surgery is essential, it can be effective.
Vonn’s coach, Chris Knight, noted their initial concerns about whether the titanium knee could withstand the extreme demands of high-speed downhill skiing. “There was not a lot of research out there with high-level athletes and partial knee replacements. It is a new frontier,” he stated, but added that her results speak for themselves. He emphasized that Vonn’s maintenance of excellent physical condition during her time away from competition likely contributed to her successful recovery.
U.S. Ski Team head coach Paul Kristofic also expressed interest in Vonn’s experience, joking about his own need for a similar procedure. Nevertheless, skepticism still exists. Four-time overall World Cup champion Pirmin Zurbriggen recently raised concerns about the risks associated with competing on an artificial knee. In response, Panzeri reassured that titanium implants are designed to be durable, dispelling fears of failure.
Vonn’s next race is scheduled for St. Anton, Austria, on January 11-12, as she continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible for athletes recovering from significant injuries.
