'100 per cent gone': Lindsey Vonn hits back at sports doctor claiming her ACL tear must not be a fresh injury

Lindsey Vonn has denied suggestions her ACL tear at the World Cup last week was not a fresh injury, insisting that her knee was "fully functioning" prior to her race.

All eyes have been on the veteran skier at Milano Cortina 2026 after she confirmed she would still compete in the downhill skiing events despite completely rupturing her ACL.

The American will don a knee brace while competing in Cortina d'Ampezzo, a move which has helped her complete two training runs for the event.

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While Vonn has spoken at length about how she is managing the ACL tear, her ability to put together incredible runs so soon after such a serious injury has led to questions about the injury's veracity.

Vonn took to Instagram to share that she was "feeling good" after her first training run.

Just 24 hours later on Saturday, she recorded the third-fastest time of the session.

That run came hours after she hit back at critics, who had declared Vonn may have already had a tear in her ACL before completely rupturing it at the World Cup.

"What was the state of her ACL before the crash last week," sports medicine doctor Brian Sutterer wrote on X.

"What she is doing now would not be nearly as surprising in an elite athlete whose knee was already functioning like the ACL was torn at baseline.

"When you hear stories about "so and so played for years on a torn ACL", that's chronic, meaning the body has time to adapt and retrain muscles to support the knee.

"Also, someone who had a prior tear or surgery may not be as swollen and painful with a repeat injury. Bottom line, I don't think this was a bread and butter, fresh ACL tear like everyone is thinking."

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Sutterer's claim received mixed reaction in the replies to his tweet. But he also got a direct response from Vonn.

"Lol, thanks doc. My ACL was fully functioning until last Friday," she wrote.

"Just because it seems impossible to you doesn't mean it is not possible. And yes, my ACL is 100 per cent ruptured. Not 80 per cent or 50 per cent. It's 100 per cent gone."

Sutterer did not back down from his beliefs about Vonn, despite her response, simply writing "fun day here" with a sweating emoji as comments continued to pile up.

Several high-profile athletes have rallied behind Vonn and shown their support for her on social media, including three-time Olympic gold medallist Shaun White and tennis legend Billie Jean King.

White wrote on Instagram: "You're built different LV! Let's gooooo."

"You are remarkable and we are behind you 100 per cent," King said.

Emma Hayes, head coach of the women's national soccer team added: "You inspire me. Your mind is so strong."

Vonn's fastest time during training was one minute and 38.28 seconds, positioning her just 0.37 off the leader, her USA teammate Breezy Johnson.

Germany's Kira Weidle-Winkelmann separated the two US athletes with a time of 1:38.12.

The women's downhill will take place on Sunday from 9.30pm AEDT.