What’s the Risk to Lindsey Vonn? Orthopedic Expert Weighs In on Skiing Through ACL Tear

Vonn’s Injury: An Expert Opinion

Ryan has extensive experience working with elite athletes competing under extreme physical demands. He approaches injuries like Vonn’s with an understanding of what’s possible in terms of recovery.

Given that background, Ryan said he was cautiously optimistic about Vonn’s chances — not because the injury is insignificant, but because he’s seen how exceptional athletes respond when circumstances demand more than the textbook solution.

Ryan was quick to emphasize the limits of any outside analysis. He has not spoken with Vonn, nor examined her. That distinction matters to him — not out of caution, but out of respect for the athlete and the team guiding her recovery.

That disclaimer made, he described how Vonn’s situation sits squarely in a “grey zone of medicine,” where doctors toe the line between art and science. Recovery at this level is a collaborative process — one that extends beyond a single diagnosis or surgical decision.

“You have to take into consideration a lot of factors,” he said. “Number one, I would say, this is Lindsey Vonn — arguably one of the greatest ski athletes ever to walk the planet. Comebacks like this are a team effort; it’s the athlete, the physician, the physical therapist, the coaches — all working together. But beyond that, it requires an athlete who is mentally equipped to tolerate uncertainty, risk, and discomfort in pursuit of something bigger.”

Despite the severity of an ACL tear, it’s not unheard of for athletes to push through an injury like this in order to keep competing. For example, in 2008, Phillip Rivers, quarterback for the L.A. Chargers, tore his ACL and played through the Chargers’ playoff game against the New England Patriots.

“There are certain circumstances whereby certain athletes with certain positions can be effective with an ACL-deficient knee,” Ryan said.

He thinks Vonn has still has a shot — not just at competing, but potentially even at making the podium. But it isn’t without risk. And as a surgeon, that’s what gives him real anxiety.

“Could you risk further injury to the knee, such as more meniscus damage, more cartilage damage, or other ligament damage? The answer to that is yes, just simply based on the mechanics of the knee not being stable.”

Not an Option for Everyone

Still, Ryan said he understands why athletes like Vonn push forward, despite the risks.

“Athletes like this challenge what we read in the textbooks,” he said. “They challenge the boundaries of what is deemed possible. At a certain level, you have to treat the situation and the athlete in front of you — not just the diagnosis.”

But while it may look heroic to Vonn’s fans, Ryan cautions others in similar situations against following her example.

“The downside is that some people might think, ‘Well, if Lindsey Vonn did this with a torn ACL, then I can, too.’ And let’s just be clear: There’s probably one or two people in the world that can do something like this on skis,” Ryan said. “This should not be a recipe for everyone else who tears their ACL.”