Can Lindsey Vonn defy the odds and make Olympic history? It’s the question on everyone’s mind as the 41-year-old skiing legend prepares to chase gold in the women’s downhill at the Milan Cortina Olympics—just nine days after tearing her ACL. But here’s where it gets even more jaw-dropping: Vonn will compete with a bulky brace on her injured knee, her other knee already partially replaced with titanium in 2024. Her journey to this moment? A crash during the final World Cup downhill before the Games, followed by two training runs that have left fans and critics alike holding their breath. Vonn’s ACL may be “100% gone,” but her determination is anything but.
And this is the part most people miss: Vonn isn’t the only one with her eyes on the podium. Italy’s Sofia Goggia, the 2018 Olympic champion and Beijing silver medalist, lit the cauldron at Friday’s opening ceremony—a symbolic reminder of her dominance. Germany’s Emma Aicher, who edged out Vonn in a World Cup race last December, is also in the mix. Add Frederica Brignone (Italy), Corinne Suter (Switzerland), Cornelia Huetter (Austria), and Alice Robinson (New Zealand) to the roster, and you’ve got a race that’s anyone’s game. Catch it live at 11:30 a.m. local time (5:30 a.m. ET) on official broadcasters like NBC, Peacock, or the NBC Olympics platform.
But wait—there’s more history in the making. Up in Livigno, Czech snowboarder Ester Ledecka is gunning for her third straight Olympic gold in the parallel giant slalom. If she pulls it off, she’ll achieve something even snowboarding icons like Shaun White and Chloe Kim never have. Ledecka’s no stranger to breaking records; in 2018, she became the first—and still only—athlete to win gold in both ski and snowboard events. Her qualification round starts in the morning, with finals at 1 p.m. local time (7 a.m. ET).
Here’s the controversial question: Is Vonn’s comeback attempt inspiring or reckless? And does Ledecka’s dominance signal a shift in snowboarding’s future? Let us know in the comments—we want to hear your take! Don’t forget, Day 2 also features medal events in figure skating (team event), biathlon, luge, skiathlon, and speedskating. Tune in, because this Olympics is already rewriting the record books.
