Despite disastrous crash, Lindsey Vonn’s return was neither selfish nor unwarranted

The Milano-Cortina Olympics are a place where after immense training, practice, dedication, athletes are required to be brave in different ways.

They take immense physical and mental risks. They bet on themselves. It may not go the way they want. 

It can be concluded that legendary skier, Lindsey Vonn, did just that — bet on herself — and lost. But what is the wager? Do we purport to bet on ourselves only if there is no risk? 

On Sunday, Vonn, 41, crashed during her downhill event at the Olimpia delle Tofane course. Her painful cries could be heard on the hill as she was surrounded by medical personnel, and was then airlifted out. 

It was eerily quiet and simultaneously devastating as supporters, fans and her family watched one of the most prolific and successful women to ever compete in downhill end this Olympic journey in the worst-case scenario imaginable. 

Breezy Johnson, a U.S. teammate, had completed the run (and subsequently won the race) but watched in heavy silence as Vonn was tended to and whisked away by helicopter. Vonn was taken to a hospital in Treviso where she underwent surgery on her fractured left leg.  

All of this on top of another recent crash resulting in a severe knee injury a week before the Olympics. At a competition in Switzerland nine days ago, Vonn ruptured the Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left leg, plus sustained damage to the bone and meniscus. On Tuesday, she shared an Instagram post detailing that after consultations with physicians and after tests, she declared she would be “capable of competing” and decided to try. 

Vonn said that she was confident in her body’s ability to perform. She retired six years ago due to another knee injury.  Her comeback to Cortina was one of the most anticipated returns, rendering this crash particularly devastating.

Vonn is known as the “queen of Cortina” and has been very successful on that same course.

It was eerily quiet and simultaneously devastating as supporters, fans and her family watched one of the most prolific and successful women to ever compete in downhill end this Olympic journey in the worst-case scenario imaginable. 

Breezy Johnson, a U.S. teammate, had completed the run (and subsequently won the race) but watched in heavy silence as Vonn was tended to and whisked away by helicopter. Vonn was taken to a hospital in Treviso where she underwent surgery on her fractured left leg.  

All of this on top of another recent crash resulting in a severe knee injury a week before the Olympics. At a competition in Switzerland nine days ago, Vonn ruptured the Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left leg, plus sustained damage to the bone and meniscus. On Feb.3, she shared an Instagram post detailing that after consultations with physicians and after tests, she declared she would be “capable of competing” and decided to try. 

Vonn said that she was confident in her body’s ability to perform. She retired six years ago due to another knee injury.  Her comeback to Cortina was one of the most anticipated returns, rendering this crash particularly devastating. Vonn is known as the “queen of Cortina” and has been very successful on that same course.

Why did she return?

All the emotions swirling around Vonn’s crash, and questions about why she decided to compete in the first place, are blowing up the internet. 

However, Georgia Ens, a Calgary-based mental health consultant who works with elite athletes, and at the Canadian Sport Institute, said for high-achieving athletes like Vonn, it’s not the glory but the challenge and knowing your body to believe in what’s possible. 

“I think for her,  it was kind of like, ‘why wouldn’t I? I know I can,’” Ens said. “‘I believe in myself. I’m going to rise to this occasion and this challenge. I knew that coming back wouldn’t be an easy thing, but I’m going to do my best out there, because my best is what counts,’“

It could not have been an easy decision for Vonn to make after being at the pinnacle of not just a mountain but also her own personal victories. 

All the negative comments marinating in an “I told you so” sentiment shouldn’t be applicable here. Vonn has already done with her body what the vast world population can not and will never do. 

It is not unimaginable for her to believe she could do it again. 

She has been fit and mentally strong enough to come back from numerous injuries, survive recovery programs and compete in a sport that has a high risk factor. 

Realistically, most Winter Olympic sports can be dangerous. You are pivoting at high speeds on ice and snow, and using your body to manoeuvre in a particular way with nanoseconds between you and disaster. 

In a social post, American teammate Rell Harwood explained that she doesn’t have an ACL, and it’s not “uncommon” for other athletes to compete without one.  

Despite being sans-ACL, Vonn was considered a frontrunner for the gold medal and had been performing well even with the titanium knee replacement in her right leg. Her return was lauded as one of the greatest comebacks in sport.

“Age is just a number for women in sport,” she told Reuters just days before her crash in Cortina. 

She completed practice runs and planned to wear a brace, which doesn’t replace an ACL and has limited support, but her main piece of arsenal was her resolve. 

Vonn is arguably one of the most decorated skiers in history and provided a masterclass for women in sport on ignoring the naysayers.

Tried but didn’t succeed

And although the injury itself will be painful, the grief of knowing you tried but did not succeed could be the harder battle even for someone as tough as Vonn. 

“I don’t claim to know what she’s going through,” Johnson told reporters in the media zone after the race. “But I do know what it’s like to be here to be fighting for the Olympics and to have this course burn you and to watch those dreams die.” 

Johnson’s gold medal wasn’t the top story in downhill, and although she must be thrilled for her own achievement, her thoughts were with her teammate.

“It was one of the most heartbreaking moments of my life,” she added. “I can’t imagine the pain that she’s going through, and it’s not the physical pain, we can deal with the physical pain. But the emotional pain is something else. And you know, I wish her the best and I hope this isn’t the end.”

There have been impactful and empathetic reactions from alpine skiing analysts and reporters, including CBC Sports broadcasters  Brian Stemmle and Kelly Vaanderbeek. Former British Alpine racer, Chemmy Alcott, said she teared up on air while sharing her own reflections on Vonn’s crash.

The vulnerability and compassion being shown is essential.

The world could certainly do with less cynicism and more with understanding that sometimes, a challenge or a risk does not pan out the way it’s hoped. 

This is perhaps a part of Vonn’s legacy that despite the impossibilities, risks, and disbelievers, that she tried. Perhaps she tried for herself more than anyone else. 

She has brought pride to the flag, her family, and the sport. It was not selfish or unwarranted for her to try again for herself. 

“I would stress it took courage and bravery to do this, and it also takes courage and bravery to walk away,” Ens said. “And both of those are really hard choices to make when you’ve set these big goals for yourself and you are on the precipice of completing a big goal.” 

The day before her race, Vonn wrote, “Know that I believe in myself. Know that the odds are stacked against me with my age, no ACL, and a titanium knee – but know that I still believe. And usually, when the odds are stacked against me the most, I pull the best of what’s inside me out.”

As heartbreaking as this crash is, perhaps Vonn’s biggest challenge will be how she recovers and what happens next. 

She has already won medals, accolades, and records. She is showing other women how to take on a mountain — literally. 

Perhaps she’ll continue to believe in her own power, frame her narrative, and yes, bet on herself again.