by Liz Bonis, WKRC | Click here to see the full story.

CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Lindsey Vonn participated in downhill training at the Winter Olympics in Milan despite a ruptured ACL.

Specialists at OrthoCincy advised against competing with such an injury. Dr. Adam Metzler, an OrthoCincy knee surgeon, explained, “So, when an athlete like Lindsey Vonn says they are going to continue to do it, it’s actually really difficult for them.”

Metzler emphasized the ACL’s critical role in stability, noting, “This is the ligament that Lindsey Vonn injured.”

He highlighted Vonn’s history of knee injuries, including a previous knee replacement and ACL reconstruction on her right knee, and the recent ACL tear in her left knee. Metzler expressed hope for Vonn’s competitiveness but warned that delaying ACL repair surgery increases the risk of improper healing.

“Well typically we are going to take some of the patient’s tissue, take a graph from them usually a quad tendon or a patella tendon and reconstruct or make them a new ACL,” Metzler said.

The recommended recovery time after ACL surgery is generally nine months, supported by research as a safe return to sport time.