Lindsey Vonn on track in 6-8 months? "Question of head and cartilage"

Will Lindsey Vonn be able to get back on track? And, if it happens, when and with what expectations of success? These are questions that many ask these daysski enthusiaststhey are wondering. Especially after the shock ofvideo posted yesterday dalla American championwho was injured on February 8, in which she explained in detail the consequences offalloccurred during theOlympic women’s downhill race. A video that shocked her fans, in which the skier, who was aiming for the podium atOlympic Gamesof the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics despite a recent onerupture of the anterior cruciate ligamentsaid he risked theleg amputation.

After two weeks ofhospitalization in Italythe former champion finally left the hospital, recording the video from a hotel. A sign of recovery, but also the opportunity to talk about the most critical phase experienced after the operation. AGI asked theDr. Daniele Mazzaspecialista in Orthopedics and Traumatologyand doctor of the National Under 21 men’s football team, renowned specialist insports orthopedics and traumatologyan in-depth analysis of theinfo on Lindsey Vonntrying, where possible, to hypothesize irecovery times e l’eventuale level of competitivenessof the champion.

The return to competitiveness

Let’s start with the most recurring question: will it become competitive again? According to the orthopedist, the answer is yes “if thereconstructionshe was preciserehabilitationflawless and without complications and, above all, if thecartilageholds the load and themotivationof the champion remains intact”.

The mental component in skiing

Mazza leads as an exampleFederica Brignonewhich demonstrates how inmodern alpine skiing la mental componentis as crucial as the physical one: “Themotivationla resiliencethe ability to return after ainjurythey are not romantic aspects – he underlines – they areindirect biomechanical factors”.

The Lindsey Vonn Incident

Speaking about the accident, Dr. Mazza explains that “when setting the curve, Vonn presented amarked support on the external skiwith inclined trunk andleft knee in flexionfrom 35-45 degrees, loading themedial compartment“. The internal skiing already showed a progressiveloss of stabilitypreparing for the next failure.

The mechanism of injury and management

Mazza then explains that the left ski suddenly caught the snow, “blocking thetibia distally mentre il femur rotated by inertiachallenging avery rapid joint collapse con marked dynamic valgus, tibial internal rotationand slight extension”. All in less than 100 milliseconds, too short for aprotective neuromuscular response.

I’m bionic for real now pic.twitter.com/SSJNjlBqUL

— lindsey vonn (@lindseyvonn) February 20, 2026

The mechanism is the classic ‘slip-catch‘, explains the orthopedist, that is, loss of grip followed by violent reattachment, with “very high torsional torque” amplified byexponential ground reaction forces e dalla long ski leverwhose center of mass was off-axis. Forhigh-energy trauma with open fractureDr. Mazza explains that one is preferredmultiple management: first aexternal fixator bridgeto stabilize without stressing the soft tissues, control swelling and prevent skin necrosis or infections. “AND ‘damage control‘intelligent,’ he points out. Next, ‘withreduced edema e infectious risk under control‘surgical debridementwashing anddefinitive reconstruction with plates and screws per una millimetric anatomical reduction della articular surfacecrucial against theearly arthrosis”.

Recovery times and return conditions

Then speaking aboutrecovery timesthe orthopedist explains to AGI that thebone consolidation“takes 4-6 months if thereconstruction is stablefollowed bytargeted rehabilitation con progressive loadI work ondynamic valgus, controlled twists e shock and vibration absorption“. The champion could therefore return approximately between the end of summer and the beginning of autumn 2026, August-October, in the absence of complications. In what conditions will she return to the track? According to Doctor Mazza, “after aarticular fracture of the proximal tibiaun trauma che coinvolge la surface of the kneeit’s not just about ‘breaking a bone’, it’s aboutrestore a jointthat he will have to endurehuge loadsespecially inalpine skiing. In the case of an athlete like Lindsey Vonn – he adds – the return does not mean walking without pain. It means getting back to managingvery high torsional forcescheck thedynamic valgus at high speedto toleratelong levers (skis) e assorbire continuous impacts and vibrations”.

The question mark of the cartilage

Se la fracturewas rebuilt in such a wayanatomical and stablethe bone can heal very well, but the real question mark is thecartilage. “Un high energy traumacan damage thecartilageeven when thesurgical reductionit is perfect – he explains – this means that over time it can increaserisk of post-traumatic arthrosis. It’s not a certain destiny, but it is onereal variable”.