American Olympian Lindsey Vonn has publicly addressed criticism regarding her selection for Team USA, particularly in light of a ruptured ACL and a subsequent broken leg. Vonn underwent multiple surgeries for the leg injury sustained during the Milan Cortina Olympics and has since returned to the U.S. for recovery.
Despite the challenges, Vonn stated that her pursuit of an Olympic appearance at age 41 was significant. She reflected on her comeback, stating, "I did it. I came back. I won. I showed up and did what most thought was impossible at my age with a partial knee replacement." She expressed gratitude for the memories made.
Vonn specifically mentioned that the criticism of her being "selfish" and potentially taking a spot from another athlete was particularly stinging. She recalled being a top World Cup skier prior to the Olympics, ranking first in downhill and third in super-G, with multiple podium finishes.
She added, "It’s not impossible until it’s done. I didn’t reach my ultimate goal…. But I still did a lot. Thank you to those who believed."