Lindsey Vonn Named to US Ski Team Despite Injury Recovery

Lindsey Vonn has been named to the United States ski team A-team for the upcoming season, despite facing a nearly impossible recovery timeline following a severe crash at the February Olympic downhill in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The 41-year-old American star is among 17 athletes selected for the national roster ahead of the World Cup season opener in Sölden, Austria.

Vonn Avoids Leg Amputation After Olympic Crash

Vonn sustained a complex fracture of her left tibia during her crash at the Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, according to details shared by the German press agency DPA. The athlete later stated that an urgent surgical intervention was the only measure that prevented the amputation of her leg. She has undergone multiple surgeries since the incident.

Her surprising inclusion in the 17-skier elite roster is noted, but an early return to the competitive slopes remains virtually out of the question. Vonn announced in late April that she would not make her comeback prior to the 2027/2028 season.

November Surgery Rules Out World Championships

Vonn faces another surgical procedure in November to remove metal reinforcements from her leg and reconstruct her anterior cruciate ligament. The required six-month recovery window following the ligament reconstruction rules out any possibility of competing at the upcoming world championships in Switzerland next year.

Keď budem mať skrížený väz zrekonštruovaný, bude to trvať ešte ďalších šesť mesiacov.

Lindsey Vonnová

Special World Cup Wild Card Status

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation announced that Vonn will receive a wild card entry if she decides to return to the circuit, securing a special right to start as an 84-time World Cup race winner. The World Cup season traditionally begins in late October on a glacier in Sölden, Austria, where the U.S. squad will open its campaign with its newly selected roster.