CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Lindsey Vonn expressed that she is feeling “good” despite experiencing a fall during the latter part of a World Cup downhill training run on Thursday, with only minor bruises reported. The protective airbag that many downhill racers utilize deployed beneath her racing outfit, helping to cushion her fall. She managed to stand up and ski to the finish line on the Olympia delle Tofane course, but subsequently sought medical attention inside a tent. Fortunately, her team confirmed that no bones were broken in the incident.
“I’m good,” Vonn shared in an interview later that day at the U.S. team hotel. “I just caught a lot of air off the second-to-last jump, and when I landed, my ski kind of caught funny.” She mentioned that she feels some soreness but remains optimistic about participating in the races this weekend.
The 40-year-old athlete recently made her return to competitive skiing after nearly six years away, during which she underwent a titanium knee replacement. When asked about the condition of her right knee, which contains the titanium implant, Vonn stated, “No problem. Titanium doesn’t break.” She added that her titanium knee is performing better than anticipated.
Last Sunday, Vonn achieved a respectable fourth place in a super-G event held in St. Anton, Austria. She also holds the impressive record of 12 wins in Cortina, which is set to host the Milan-Cortina Olympics next year. “Everything’s getting faster and better, and I’m dialing everything in one day at a time, so hopefully I can get on the podium this weekend,” she remarked, showcasing her ambition for the upcoming races.
Another training session for downhill skiing is scheduled for Friday, with the downhill races set for Saturday, followed by super-G competitions on Sunday. Vonn has been adjusting to new equipment throughout her comeback journey and even damaged one of her boots during her fall. “I don’t know if I have to get a new boot tomorrow. I have to figure that out,” she indicated, highlighting the challenges athletes face when adapting to new gear.
In the training session, Italian competitors Federica Brignone, Sofia Goggia, and Nadia Delago secured the top three spots, highlighting strong local performances ahead of the main events.
