Lindsey Vonn's knees

[noodlegirl]

Has anyone been following the run up to the winter Olympics - I'm so gutted for Lindsey Vonn, she is my knee hero, she's had so many knee injuries and every time she never lets it stop here, she rehabs, she competes again, she wins medals, then she gets another knee injury.

I find her a bit of an inspiration for in terms of getting back to doing sport and I think her knee's are a lot more mashed up than mine, she gives me a lot of hope in terms of getting back to sport.

[Kaputt_Knee]

She is the last person to follow to be honest - she disregarded the protocol her surgeons gave her, Dr Sterrett did not carry out her revision. She has been a total idiot in her "come back", and the writing was on the wall a long time back that Sochi was not on the cards. Other racers with similar injuries that occurred later than Vonn's, came back quietly without all the blaze of media and will be going to Sochi because they did the rehab and worked with, not against, the advice and guidance of their surgeons and therapists. Take a look at Alice McKenniss for a real hero or Larisa Yurkiw (Canadian speed specialist).

She is obsessed with records and needs to take a long hard look at her attitude. She is not even the USA's most decorated female Olympic skier, Julia Mancuso has that title having won more medals than any other American female ski racer in the entire history of US participation in Winter Olympics. A far better role model who works hard at her fitness and is way less of a Diva.

BTW, the injury at Schladming in February 2013 was Vonn's first major knee injury! She had a remarkably injury-free career up until then. The accident was entirely down to "pilot-error" as well despite everything said at the time. The talk of suing the FIS and the organising committee for negligence were soon squashed by her own federation as being stupid.

Sorry but Vonn is an extremely talented skier who has achieved a huge amount in her long career, but she and reality parted company a long time ago! Modesty was never one of her qualities, even way back when she was Miss Kildow and not achieving results to write home about. Compare her results with those of Mikaela Schriffin, winning her first Crystal Globe at just a few days past her 18th birthday, Vonn was 20 before she podiumed.

[allyd]

I agree with much of what kaput has to say in regards to her injury and what we know about it. It was her first "major knee injury" and she tried to rush back and re-tore it. She then tried to rehab it and ski with no acl, but that wasnt working. It is what it is. If anything its just a perfect example that set backs and reinjuries can happen to anyone. Not just 'non-athletes'... and, she'll comeback and compete at a high level again. Just not at the Olympics. Which to be fair, in the u.s. is the only time these sports get any attention! Which means her next round of rehab will go much more unnoticed and undocumented by the likes of espn

As for the high profile return. In the u.s. the media has a way of not letting certain stars do things quietly... even of they want to. Whether she did... I will let the individual judge.

[Kaputt_Knee]

Which means her next round of rehab will go much more unnoticed and undocumented by the likes of espn

You want to bet on that allyd?   

She's already tweeting pictures of herself post-op. With a media giant like Red Bull on her case (including trips to the notorious Dr. Pansold at his "training centre" at Thalgau near Salzburg), plus endless mentions in the media through out the Games, I doubt very much if this particular narcissistic lady will rehab quietly in the background! Remember this is the lady who turned up to the Super-G post race press conference in Vancouver (where she won Bronze) without the Bronze, but with the Gold she had won in the Downhill. Crass and disrespectful of the other two medallists.

I have a bet on with another friend that she does not make it to the top again as she cannot take the competition from the likes of Mikaela and Laurenne Ross who are way younger and making tremendous improvements all the time! She has blown her fanbase over here with her comments and behaviour over the past 2 or 3 seasons, bizarre to say the least. As they say in a large part of the Alps - sie tickt night richtig!   

Rehab from a revision is a double-edged sword - on one hand you've been there and done that but on the other, your knee has undergone another even more invasive procedure so you have to really listen to your body, your therapists and your surgeon.

[allyd]

Clearly you are a huge fan of the sport, and im not gonna debate as I am not . And I suspect that likely gives you a different perspective than most. I also suspect media coverage is different in various parts of the world.

To the casual Olympic fan. She's a great human interest story. In the u.s.... that's how they create buzz and interest for the olympics. It is what it is. And twitter and instagram is the world we live in.

For me... She's a home town girl. She grew up 15 miles from where I live, so Ive gotten to see a lot of the local , more humble coverage of her over the years.

In the us. She's considered a strong female athlete. We dont get a lot of those here... and if that gives some inspiration to someone rehabbing, go to it. like i said earlier, her re-tear actually provides some realism for rehab.

[Kaputt_Knee]

Yep you have me banged to rights there allyd, major fan and have been most of my life!  Most of my early heroes and heroines are now being introduced at Various World Cup events as "Ski Legends". Mind you they can still ski the legs off even the best of the recreational skiers although some are in their late 70s!

I find it sad that the US has consistently produced world-class ski racers and they get little or no recognition in their own country unless it is an Olympic year, and then only if they get a Gold. All the racers who reach the world stage are tremendous athletes and should be celebrated for their achievements, whether they reach the top step of the podium or not.