ABC News reports that Lindsey Vonn, one of the most decorated skiers in Olympic history, skied cautiously during an official women’s downhill training session at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The U.S. skier's time currently puts the 41-year-old in ninth place, outside the top ranks.

Her performance is remarkable considering that just one week ago she tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee, an injury that would typically sideline most athletes.

"Women injure their ACL 2.2 times more than men," Riley J. Williams III, MD, chief of sports medicine at the HSS told ABC News.

 But Vonn is at an Olympic level of conditioning, Williams said.

"Her tolerance for speed and demand is greater than a normal person," Dr. Williams explained.

Though Vonn said in a news conference last week that she has the "help of a knee brace," Dr. Williams pointed out a brace may not prevent further damage.

"The brace is very helpful for side to side, but what it does not do is protect you from rotation," Dr. Williams explained. "As she's going from one direction to the other, doing those fast turns down the hill, there's a rotational component that even the tightest braces are not going to protect you from."

But if anyone can power through an ACL tear to compete at the highest level, Dr. Williams said, it’s the three-time Olympic medalist.

"Who would you pick to try to ski Olympic downhill without an ACL? It would be Lindsey Vonn," Dr. Williams said.

Read the full article at abcnews.com.