Lindsey Vonn is walking, training and even playing tennis after her devastating Olympic crash. However, surgery to reconstruct the ACL she ruptured nine days before the Olympic downhill—and another nine months of rehabilitation—still await her.
A devastating knee injury ended Katharina Liensberger’s Olympic season. Now, the Austrian champion is finding patience, perspective and renewed love for skiing on her road back.
Federica Brignone returned to snow July 30 for the first time since her final World Cup race in Soldeu. However, the two-time Olympic champion has not decided whether she will compete during the 2026-27 season.
Lauren Macuga entered the Olympic season as one of the brightest young stars on the Stifel U.S. Ski Team before an ACL tear ended her winter before it began. The World Championship medalist opens up about recovery, missing the Olympics, rediscovering her love for ski racing and her planned return to snow.
Petra Vlhová has hired Mario Rafetzeder as head coach as the Olympic champion continues her comeback toward a return to World Cup skiing.
Steen Olsen and Sarrizan / GEPA pictures Steen Olsen back on snow Alpin Norway shared
Lindsey Vonn’s recovery continues after her Olympic crash, but a recent public appearance shows the reality behind her optimistic timeline.
Lindsey Vonn says a return to the 2030 Olympics remains possible—but only if she can compete at the highest level after her recovery.
After winning two gold medals at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, Federica Brignone is ending her season early to focus on rehabilitating the leg she fractured last April.
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Federica Brignone is in Soldeu, but the Italian star admits she is still battling pain from her 2025 leg fractures. Living “very much day-by-day,” Brignone faces tough decisions about racing, recovery and what comes next.
Lindsey Vonn confirmed she ruptured her ACL in a recent World Cup crash but still plans to race the Olympic downhill at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games, refusing to walk away from what could be her final Olympic start.
Norwegian speed stars Aleksander Aamodt Kilde and Fredrik Møller return to Kitzbühel training as they build fitness, confidence, and timing ahead of the Olympic Games.
Petra Vlhová says she has been cleared to ski at full intensity and will fight for a return at the Milano–Cortina 2026 Olympic Games after a long injury layoff.
Ski racing carries inherent risk, but injury prevention and return-to-snow systems are evolving. Coaches and programs are rethinking how athletes recover, rebuild confidence, and return safely—through better communication, smarter training design, and a culture that prioritizes long-term health.
Marcel Hirscher has officially ruled out a return this Olympic winter, ending months of speculation. His decision sharply contrasts with Lindsey Vonn’s successful comeback and gold-medal momentum.
Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is hopeful he’ll return to racing in Thursday’s Copper Mountain super-G, but he won’t make the final decision until tomorrow.
More than a year after his devastating crash in Wengen, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde is preparing to return to Colorado, where he’ll train with the Norwegian team ahead of a possible World Cup comeback at Beaver Creek. His recovery has been long and painful, but his determination—and cautious optimism—remain unshaken.
Ava Sunshine and Mikaela Shiffrin celebrate in Levi 2022: GEPA pictures Ava Sunshine was just
After months of recovery and two knee surgeries, Slovak ski star Petra Vlhová is back on snow. Training under new head coach Matej Gemza, she begins her comeback on Italy’s Stelvio Glacier—an important step toward returning to World Cup form.
Austrian standout Marco Schwarz says he’s finally pain-free and ready to tackle the Olympic season with renewed focus on giant slalom, slalom, and super-G after battling through two major injuries. The 30-year-old told Kleine Zeitung that he hasn’t felt knee pain since June and plans a patient buildup after a mixed comeback season. Schwarz will skip early downhills but continue limited speed training as he works toward full form ahead of the World Cup opener Oct. 25–26 in Sölden. Information translated from German and provided by Kleine Zeitung (Austria), with reporting by Daniel Jerovsek.
Marcel Hirscher is back on snow. The eight-time overall World Cup champion made his first turns in the Zoetermeer indoor ski hall, 277 days after tearing the cruciate ligament in his left knee. The comeback marks the latest step for the 67-time World Cup winner, who returned to racing under the Dutch flag last season before injury cut his campaign short.
Sarrazin’s crash on the Stelvio, the slope set to host the men’s Olympic downhill this February, has renewed concerns about safety. The fall last December highlighted just how unforgiving Bormio can be in midwinter. Organizers point out that conditions in February — with more direct sun and the opportunity to prepare the piste from top to bottom in a more uniform manner — should make the Olympic surface safer. Still, the questions raised by his accident continue to echo as the Games approach. For Sarrazin, the focus is no longer on what was lost but on what lies ahead. His determination is clear: recover fully, return in 2026–27, and chase the dream of competing at the 2030 Olympics in front of a home crowd.
Federica Brignone continues her recovery after a leg fracture ended her record-setting World Cup season, and while her timeline for returning to training remains uncertain, her brother and coach Davide Brignone says the 2026 Cortina Olympics are still possible.
After breaking both legs in a World Cup crash, Sam DuPratt fought his way back to the start gate in Val Gardena—three years later, on the same hill. This is the story of grit, setbacks, and a comeback built on total ownership.
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