Injured Lindsey Vonn takes to the slopes for a final workout before the Olympic race

Lindsey Vonn hits a streak in the final training run ahead of Sunday’s Olympic track and field event tearing his left ACL where he crashed in the World Cup race in the Swiss Alps last week.

The 41-year-old Alpine skier injured his knee in a crash in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, but has vowed to race Sunday’s downhill.

On Friday, Vonn confirmed the seriousness of her injury.

In a social media response to a doctor’s post questioning her ability to compete, Vonn said: “lol thanks doc. My ACL was fully functional until last Friday. Just because it seems impossible to you doesn’t mean it’s impossible. And yes, my ACL is 100% torn. It’s not 80% or 50%. It’s 100% gone.

Saturday’s run was the second official practice run to take place before Vonn’s first Olympic event, the women’s downhill. scheduled for Sunday.

There were supposed to be three training events but the first one that was supposed to be held on Thursday was canceled due to the weather. Vonn successfully participated in a training event on Fridaywhich was also weather delayed.

The 41-year-old suspect completed the race on Saturday without any problems.

“Everything is good,” Vonn told The Associated Press.

American Olympic alpine skiers he told CBS News on Thursday that they believe that their colleague will be able to persevere despite being injured.

“If anyone can come back from this, if anyone can, it’s Lindsey,” said Team USA skater Isabella Wright during a practice session with the American athlete before the opening of the Games.

“If it’s your last game, and you know, you’ve probably got a lot of knee damage, you don’t have much to lose,” Vonn’s teammate Breezy Johnson told CBS News.

Vonn calls out ageism

After completing training, Vonn took to social media to respond to what she called “the weirdest comments” published by USA Today on Saturday.

Greg Graber, who USA Today said is an effective mental health coach for elite athletes, said that in his experience, it is not uncommon for elite athletes to base their confidence on their athletic performance, adding: “It’s interesting to think why some of our most respected athletic stars sometimes compete past their prime.”

“I’m not a doctor, but it seems like she’s risking long-term physical consequences by refusing to hang up her skis at this time. Vonn is smart, beautiful and has a long life ahead of her once she retires from the slopes,” he wrote of Vonn.

On X, in response to Graber’s post that shared the op-ed, Vonn said “things get old.”

“Pain and suffering is the point? I want an explanation? What am I risking at ‘my age?’ This age stuff is getting old,” Vonn wrote. “My life is not centered around skiing.”

He added, “I’m a woman who likes to ski. I don’t have an identity problem, I know exactly who I am.”

Vonn said she doesn’t need to skate but loves the sport and “came this way to one last Olympics.”

“And I’m going to go and do my best, ACL or not. It’s as simple as that,” he wrote. “And with respect, if you don’t know the story, it might be better not to think.”