Lindsey Vonn Addresses Claims She Was ‘Egocentric’ for Competing in Olympics

Lindsey Vonn is addressing the haters… once more.

“It wasn’t all for nothing… it wasn’t a dream… though sitting on this hospital mattress it appears distant now…,” Vonn, 41, wrote by way of Instagram on Saturday, February 21, defending her determination to compete within the 2026 Winter Olympics regardless of tearing her ACL 9 days earlier.

“However I did it. I got here again. I gained,” she continued within the caption, shared alongside a spotlight video of her current races. “I confirmed up and did what most thought was unattainable at my age with a partial knee substitute. These reminiscences I’ll have endlessly and I’m grateful for each one in all them. Each second was superb. Each second was price it.”

After tearing her ACL in a World Cup competitors on January 30, Vonn determined to compete within the Olympics regardless of the athlete publicly confirming the ligament was “100% gone.”

Simply 13 seconds into her first run of the Video games on February 8, she broke her left tibia after clipping a flag and crashing out. She was airlifted off the course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, and transported to a close-by hospital the place she underwent 4 surgical procedures.

She returned to america on Tuesday, February 17, and underwent a number of extra surgical procedures.

Critics jumped on Vonn after the second damage, with some claiming she shouldn’t have competed within the Olympics after tearing her ACL and, as an alternative, let another person compete in her spot.

Vonn is having none of that, itemizing out her achievements in Saturday’s Instagram publish.

“One factor that stung was when individuals mentioned I used to be egocentric and may give my Olympic spot to another person,” she mentioned within the publish. “So… I simply wished to recap my season for all of the haters on the market that don’t perceive what it means to earn your spot, and on a extra optimistic notice, to simply replicate… #1 within the downhill standings; third in sg standings; 2x Downhill wins; On each downhill podium all season; 7/8 podiums total (just one 4th place).”

She continued, “It’s not unattainable till it’s performed. I didn’t attain my final objective…. However I nonetheless did lots. Thanks to those that believed! ❤️🙏🏻 #BELV.”

Vonn beforehand defended herself on social media after a number of individuals have been questioning the extent of her ACL damage, even earlier than breaking her leg on the Olympics.

“lol thanks doc,” Vonn posted by way of X on February 7, in response to a sports activities drugs physician who was questioning the state of her damage. “My ACL was totally functioning till final Friday. Simply because it appears unattainable to you doesn’t imply it’s not attainable. And sure, my ACL is 100% ruptured. Not 80% or 50%. It’s 100% gone.”

On Friday, Vonn shared a brand new picture of her damaged legan x-ray exhibiting what seems like a medal stabilizing brace on her bone.

“As you possibly can see, it required numerous plates and screws to place again collectively however Dr. Hackett did an unbelievable job,” Vonn posted by way of Instagram on Friday, together with a carousel of movies of her within the hospital with the x-ray photographs. “Thanks Dr. Viola for the surgical procedure help as properly!”

She acknowledged the wrestle of her lengthy restoration, saying she has not been on her ft in over every week.

By means of all of it, she claims her second, extra grueling, damage had nothing to do along with her unique ACL tear.

“I used to be merely 5 inches too tight on my line when my proper arm hooked inside the gate, twisting me and resulted in my crash,” she shared by way of Instagram after the crash. “My ACL and previous accidents had nothing to do with my crash in anyway.”