Four-time overall World Cup Champion and Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn joined her first race in 10 months last Friday and earned a 40th place finish.
According to USA Today, she had been out of action for nearly a year due to a fractured tibia and torn MCL and ACL in her right knee. Vonn sustained these injuries during the February World Championships, spending most of the year in recuperation.
Although her right knee has since been surgically reconstructed and deemed fit enough to support the women's downhill defending champion, Vonn suffered an unfortunate complication just less than three weeks before the World Cup super-G - her right knee's ACL got partially torn during training.
Despite this, the 29-year-old athlete decided to press on and delay knee surgery so she could still ski at the Sochi Olympics on February 12 next year, reported Yahoo! Sports. However, she conceded that she would eventually have her knee operated on. Just not now.
During the second race Saturday, Vonn managed to log in an 11th place finish. By Sunday, she cemented her belief in winning another Olympic medal when she finished fifth in her third race.
"I know I can win again," Vonn was quoted by ESPN. "I know that I'm skiing well so I don't need to push myself and push the limits to race as many races for Sochi. I'm ready for Sochi."
She added, "I don't need to do a lot, just a couple more starts. But I really want to focus on Sochi and take the risk away from any long-term damage on my knee."
American speed coach Chip White expressed his admiration for Vonn's fitness. "Lindsey is one of the most fit athletes on the circuit. Because she is so strong she's able to compensate for the body parts that aren't 100 percent there. She's a very strong woman and very determined," he told USA Today.
"Skiing with not very much ACL left is pretty hardcore, so I give myself a little bit of credit, but the fight's not over. I have a lot more to do and I'm just going to keep working hard and I'm not going to give up and I'm going to be in Sochi, fighting for my medal," Vonn declared.