Olympic Injury Rules: Vonn, Goggia & Athlete Eligibility

Did Lindsey Vonn take too much of a risk? The question arises spontaneously, after the heavy fall at the start of the downhill race in Cortina at the Olympics. She showed up at the starting gate after rupturing the cruciate in her left knee following a crash in Crans Montana just a week ago. This, at least, is the version (considered by many not very credible) of the American champion herself in the hours before the Winter Games.

In an event like the Olympics, it is therefore possible competing while injured? He replies Andrea Panzeridoctor of Fisi, the Italian Federation: «Discretion is to all intents and purposes up to the athlete, especially when talking about a champion of the caliber of Lindsey Vonn».

There is therefore no Olympic protocol and objective rules. The decision is made by the athlete following the tests and after a discussion with the Medical Commission of their Federation. «Vonn carried out the tests he had to undergo – continues Panzeri – and, with the reports in hand, he decided to compete anyway. Obviously suggestions come from the Federation’s medical team, in this case I can’t say what they said to each other. But evidently, Lindsey insisted on taking to the track.”

The example of is emblematic Sofia Goggianow the bronze medal winner, from four years ago: the athlete from Bergamo had suffered a sprained left knee with a partial tear of the cruciate and a micro fracture of the fibula 23 days before winning an incredible Olympic silver in downhill. She took a huge risk, she accomplished the feat. And staying on these Olympics, there is the example of Flora Tabanellifreestyle skiing champion: in November she injured the anterior cruciate ligament of her right knee, did not undergo surgery and will participate in the Games. It went badly for Vonn, the race against time in this case seemed really excessive.