Lindsey Vonn's bold Olympic comeback defies injury odds ahead of downhill race
Lindsey Vonn has taken an unconventional approach to prepare for the Olympic downhill race. Instead of standard rehabilitation, she relied on strong leg muscles and knee bracing after her ACL tear. Her determination was clear as she returned to skis just days after the injury.
Vonn's recovery defied expectations. She underwent knee stress tests during training and admitted the joint could still feel unstable. Her plan was to assess its condition in downhill practice before Sunday's race.
In the final training run, she secured third place, finishing just 0.037 seconds behind Breezy Johnson. Meanwhile, Janine Schmitt, wearing bib number 24, did not start the session.
The Swiss team faced difficulties in the same run. Their best result came from Jasmine Flury, who placed 14th, 1.5 seconds off the leading time. Malorie Blanc and Corinne Suter finished near the bottom, trailing by 2.48 and 2.81 seconds respectively.
Vonn's aggressive recovery strategy has put her in contention for the Olympic downhill. Her third-place finish in training suggests she remains competitive despite her injury. The Swiss team, however, will need to improve after a disappointing performance in the final practice session.
