Lindsey Vonn has fired back at an American sports medicine doctor who cast doubt on the legitimacy of her ACL injury sustained at the Winter Olympics.
The 41-year-old skiing icon clashed with Brian Sutterer MD, an injury education specialist, after he publicly questioned whether her knee problem was as severe as reported.
Sutterer took to X to express his scepticism about the nature of Vonn’s injury, suggesting the four-time world champion may not have suffered a completely fresh ligament tear.
The Minnesota-born athlete responded sharply ahead of the Milan-Cortina Games Opening Ceremony, dismissing the doctor’s assessment and defending the authenticity of her injury diagnosis.
Vonn’s participation in Friday’s downhill training session at Cortina defied expectations, coming just seven days after she was airlifted to hospital following a crash in Crans-Montana, Switzerland on 30 January.
Despite foggy conditions at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre, the former Olympic champion completed the second official training run at speeds reaching 75mph.
Her time of 1:40.33 placed her 11th among 47 competitors, a remarkable achievement given she had completely ruptured her knee ligaments the previous week.
Lindsey Vonn has fired back at an American sports medicine doctor who cast doubt on the legitimacy of her ACL injury sustained at the Winter Olympics
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GETTY
The performance was all the more extraordinary considering Vonn had retired from the sport in 2019, only returning to competitive skiing in December 2024 after undergoing a partial knee replacement.
Sutterer argued on X that a crucial element remained unknown: the condition of Vonn’s ACL prior to last week’s accident.
He wrote: “What she is doing now would not be nearly as surprising in an elite athlete whose knee was already functioning like the ACL was torn at baseline.”
There’s a VERY important aspect of this that we do not know –
What was the state of her ACL before the crash last week?
What she is doing now would not be nearly as surprising in an elite athlete whose knee was already functioning like the ACL was torn at baseline.
When you… https://t.co/XskKBuXjZR
— Brian Sutterer MD (@BrianSuttererMD) February 6, 2026
The doctor explained that athletes who compete for extended periods with torn ligaments have bodies that adapt over time, with muscles retraining to support the knee joint.
Sutterer also noted that individuals with previous tears or surgical procedures may experience less swelling and pain following a subsequent injury.
He concluded: “Bottom line, I don’t think this was a bread and butter, fresh ACL tear like everyone is thinking.”
Vonn responded dismissively to the doctor’s analysis, writing: “Lol (laugh out loud), thanks doc. My ACL was fully functioning until last Friday.”
She continued: “Just because it seems impossible to you doesn’t mean it’s not possible.
Lindsey Vonn is a four-time Olympic medalist | GETTY
“And yes, my ACL is 100% ruptured. Not 80% or 50%. It’s 100% gone.”
Weather conditions permitting, the final training session is scheduled for Saturday ahead of Sunday’s downhill race.
Vonn will then attempt what many considered unthinkable: competing for a medal at 41 years old with a completely torn ligament.
The American previously claimed Olympic downhill gold at Vancouver 2010 and secured bronze at the 2018 PyeongChang Games.
