In the News
How Lindsey Vonn’s new titanium knee helped her become Olympic-bound once again
As Vonn sets her sights on Olympic glory at 41, five years after she retired with a broken body, she has also become one of the great guinea pigs in sports medical history, a live-action experiment in the possibilities of orthopedic reincarnation unfolding at 80 miles an hour down some of the steepest, iciest downhill skiing courses in the world.
Inside Lindsey Vonn’s Unprecedented Attempt at an Olympic Comeback
Lindsey Vonn lifts her middle finger in the Southern California sun. Vonn, the Olympic gold medal skier, all-time leader in World Cup downhill wins, and rare figure in her sport whose talent, charisma, and celebrity have transcended the snow-covered slopes, is hiking a canyon near her Beverly Hills home. Not so long ago, this might have seemed unfathomable, as she struggled with not just standard wear and tear that comes from decades of competing at a professional level but swelling and pain caused by numerous crashes while flying down mountains. Since her partial knee-replacement surgery in the spring of 2024, however, Vonn, 41, has felt like a new person.
Lindsey Vonn Got a Knee Replacement. Can She Get to the Olympics?
The 40-year-old Olympic medalist will resume ski racing this weekendon a partially rebuilt joint. Such an attempted comeback is nearlyunheard of.
When Lindsey Vonn underwent a partial knee replacement last April, it seemed amere postscript to her stellar career. She had already been retired from skiracing for more than fi ve years. And after a string of injuries, surgery felt like anatural conclusion.
From Slopes to Surgery: Lindsey Vonn’s Robotic-Assisted Knee Replacement and the Rise of Custom Implants
Lindsey Vonn, the celebrated Olympic skier, has long been a focal point in the media, with features in numerous publications and interviews, including a notable segment on “60 Minutes.” Her recent partial knee replacement surgery, involving titanium components, has been extensively documented, highlighting the journey from diagnosis to the robotic-assisted procedure. At 40 years old, and having endured multiple injuries throughout her career, Vonn’s return to the slopes has captivated audiences worldwide.
Inside Lindsey Vonn’s Unprecedented Attempt at an Olympic Comeback
TIME Magazine reports on Lindsey Vonn’s attempt at an Olympic comeback after two ACL tears, an MCL tear, shinbone fractures, and nine knee surgeries.
Vonn connected with Martin M. Roche, knee surgeon at HSS Florida, who recommended a robotic-assisted partial replacement for Vonn’s right knee. Vonn’s major pathology was cartilage loss on her lateral, or outer, side.
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