Lindsey Vonn is finally back to skiing since being benched for seven months after blowing out her right knee during the World Championships. She is now preparing for World Cup season and the Sochi Olympics, and feels optimistic about her knee.
“I can’t tell which knee is injured — that’s a good sign,” Vonn said after two beginner drills in the Andes region of Chile . “I usually go from zero to a hundred. I’m not good in between so this is going to be a challenge. Another challenge, test of my patience.”
The 28-year-old said that she felt good after the easy runs, and that her knee didn’t feel swollen or painful.
“I’ve crashed a lot in my career, and I’m just getting back up as fast as I can,” Vonn said on Sunday . “Unfortunately it’s taken me seven months to get back up this time, but I was really excited to get out there today. … It just feels like the right time, and my body feels ready.”
In February, Vonn suffered a torn ACL, MCL and lateral tibial plateau fracture after crashing in the World Championships super-G in Schladming, Austria. She had surgery five days later, and has been in recovery (and off the slope) ever since.
She had plenty of company along for her return, including U.S. Ski Team coach Jeff Fergus and fellow U.S. skiers Julia Mancuso, Stacey Cook, Leanne Smith and Laurenne Ross.
Though many would still air on the side of caution, Lindsey Vonn is ready for what is shaping up to be a historic season, knee willing. ”I’m going to be back just as good, if not better, than I was before,” she said.
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