What's going on: Lindsey Vonn’s comeback didn’t get its fairy-tale ending. The 41-year-old ski legend crashed 13 seconds into the Olympic downhill final on Sunday — just enough time for everyone to play doctor and second-guess her decision to race. Vonn, who’s in stable condition and getting treatment for a complex leg fracture, said the crash had “nothing to do with” the ACL she tore days earlier. The real cause? She clipped a gate. While her explanation didn’t satisfy armchair experts, fellow skiers stood behind her. Teammate Keely Cashman called the ACL narrative “totally incorrect.” Italian medalist Federica Brignone didn’t mince words either: “It’s her choice. If it’s your body, then you decide what to do, whether to race or not. It’s not up to others.”
Our take: Some call Vonn’s decision to compete reckless. We see a woman who did the math, knew the risks, and refused to let anyone else make decisions for her. She didn’t wing this — she consulted her medical team. Vonn nailed two training runs, and every checkpoint said go. And let’s be clear: In downhill skiing — one of the most dangerous alpine events there is — “go” means something different. Skiers drop in at 80 mph, and crashes happen regularly. Vonn wasn’t even the only skier airlifted off the mountain that day. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation said that “every single athlete has a small injury of some kind.” Her comeback put a target on her back. But Vonn’s response? “I have no regrets.”
