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How is it possible to ski with a torn ACL?

Posted on 2/7/26 at 9:12 am
Posted by Sandtrap
Baton Rouge
Member since Nov 2006
2453 posts
Posted on 2/7/26 at 9:12 am
I don’t understand how this is possible. Especially skiing full speed.
Posted by BluegrassBelle
RIP Hefty Lefty - 1981-2019
Member since Nov 2010
106898 posts
Posted on 2/7/26 at 9:22 am to
quote:

How can a skier ski on a torn ACL?

The ACL, or the anterior cruciate ligament, connects the femur to the tibia and helps to stabilize the knee as it pivots — meaning it is key to athletes in sports like soccer, hockey and football, said Dr. Timothy Lin, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine doctor at Dartmouth Health who has worked with the U.S. ski team.

In other sports, like football, an ACL tear can end an athlete's season. "In the NFL, you are constantly cutting and pivoting," Lin said. "Although you can tear your ACL skiing pretty easily, skiing is not necessarily a cutting and pivoting activity in and of itself."

That's especially true of downhill, the straightest and fastest of the alpine disciplines. Skiers must turn and jump but spend much of the race skiing in line in a tucked position. Because of that, skiing in the downhill race, as Vonn plans to do Sunday, could be less risky than if she was competing in moguls or slopestyle.


The article also mentions when Breezy Johnson (USA) did it herself.

NPR article on how it can be done
Posted by SammyTiger
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Feb 2009
78688 posts
Posted on 2/7/26 at 10:20 am to
I an going to jsut ask

How much better is Vonn than her american competitors that she is 41, has no acl and still the top choice here?

And I guess once you earn a spot it’s your call if you’re too injured to go?

But damn, 41 is old for
almost any sport
Posted by BigBinBR
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2023
9689 posts
Posted on 2/7/26 at 10:38 am to
Seems like she is doing fine:

quote:

Lindsey Vonn finished her second training run on Saturday ahead of Sunday's downhill event, eight days after she ruptured her ACL. The 41-year-old skiing legend finished with a time of 1:38.28, two seconds faster than her Friday time. That put her third among skiers who finished before weather canceled the remainder of training. American Breezy Johnson posted the fastest time of the day.
Posted by TTB
LA to L.A.
Member since Nov 2006
3139 posts
Posted on 2/7/26 at 8:02 pm to
Rub some dirt on it?
Posted by kywildcatfanone
Wildcat Country!
Member since Oct 2012
137588 posts
Posted on 2/7/26 at 8:05 pm to
A shot of something good an hour before.
This post was edited on 2/7/26 at 8:20 pm
Posted by KingRanch
The Ranch
Member since Mar 2012
61744 posts
Posted on 2/7/26 at 8:09 pm to
I’ve been doing it for years, although not at a professional level.

It’s not that difficult to hit blues with my knee
Posted by lsufball19
Franklin, TN
Member since Sep 2008
71659 posts
Posted on 2/7/26 at 8:14 pm to
quote:

How much better is Vonn than her american competitors that she is 41, has no acl and still the top choice here?

do they have alternates or do we simply just not have someone skiing at all if she had to withdraw? Legit question because I do not know. And if so, what realistic shot does an alternate have at winning a medal?

Obviously she qualified to get here at 41 which is pretty crazy in and of itself.
This post was edited on 2/7/26 at 8:16 pm
Posted by NorthGwinnettTiger
Member since Jun 2006
53203 posts
Posted on 2/7/26 at 8:25 pm to
I don't give a shite...these are just absolutely insane athletes.
Posted by Roll Tide Ravens
Birmingham, AL
Member since Nov 2015
51332 posts
Posted on 2/8/26 at 5:04 am to
Vonn just had a bad crash.
Posted by Drewbie
tFlagship
Member since Jun 2012
65231 posts
Posted on 2/8/26 at 5:06 am to
Apparently it isn't. She didn't get very far.
Posted by dirtsandwich
AL
Member since May 2016
6669 posts
Posted on 2/8/26 at 5:07 am to
It looked like she tried to turn sideways in the air to stop or something. Very odd.
Posted by Drewbie
tFlagship
Member since Jun 2012
65231 posts
Posted on 2/8/26 at 5:09 am to
You could tell immediately on the first turn she was favoring the leg. Had a bad feeling about it as soon as she announced she was still gonna compete. Massive balls to even try.
Posted by Roll Tide Ravens
Birmingham, AL
Member since Nov 2015
51332 posts
Posted on 2/8/26 at 5:11 am to
She’s being helicopter’d out.
Posted by usc6158
Member since Feb 2008
38852 posts
Posted on 2/8/26 at 5:12 am to
This is tough to watch

Posted by makersmark1
earth
Member since Oct 2011
20705 posts
Posted on 2/8/26 at 5:26 am to
I thought you needed ACL for acceleration-deceleration movements?

Posted by The Cow Goes Moo Moo
Bucktown
Member since Nov 2012
4207 posts
Posted on 2/8/26 at 5:34 am to
Seems like you need an acl to downhill ski
Posted by Drewbie
tFlagship
Member since Jun 2012
65231 posts
Posted on 2/8/26 at 5:37 am to
quote:

I thought you needed ACL for acceleration-deceleration movements?
It holds your knee in place. I can't even imagine what handling the forces hitting your knees turning on skis at 60 mph would feel like without one.
Posted by Ponchy Tiger
Ponchatoula
Member since Aug 2004
49187 posts
Posted on 2/8/26 at 5:57 am to
I just turned the TV on and saw them talking and went found a replay of the crash, that was tough to watch. I am wondering why she turned her body while in the air. Did she know she was out of control and would crash and was trying brace herself for the landing? I know she takes a lot of heat from people, but mad respect for her to even try to do this.
Posted by Lonnie Utah
Utah!
Member since Jul 2012
33555 posts
Posted on 2/8/26 at 6:06 am to
I'll preface my remarks by saying I taught professionally at a ski resort who's name is recognized worldwide for over a decade. My ex was a ski racer.

The acl keeps the knee stable by preventing the shin from moving forward. Long story short, the carbon fiber braces end up doing that job. The hamstrings and core also compensate as well.

I cannot stress how strong world cup skiers are in their legs. I the late 90s, got lucky and made the round of 16 in dual slalom pro ski race. I was 16th. The guy I raced won that event the X games that year. His quads were the same size as my 31" waist at the time.

I got my @$$ kicked. He turned around after the second jumping to see how far behind i was. But hey, I made $50 so i can claim i was once a professional ski racer.
This post was edited on 2/8/26 at 6:28 am
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