Veteran Vonn completes training run despite torn ACL

American skier Lindsey Vonn successfully completed her mandatory downhill training run at the Winter Olympics just one week after rupturing her left anterior cruciate ligament.

The 41-year-old announced on Tuesday that she had suffered the knee injury in a crash, which saw her airlifted to hospital, at the final World Cup race before the Games in Switzerland.

But Vonn, the Olympic downhill champion in 2010, completed a smooth run at the Olimpia delle Tofane course in Cortina in one minute 44.33 seconds, 1.39 seconds off the fastest time of the day.

In a powerful news conference earlier this week, Vonn had expressed her determination to compete in Sunday’s downhill race but was unsure whether she would also make it to the team and Super-G events, which take place on 10 and 12 February respectively.

Skiers must complete at least one training run to be able to compete in Sunday’s race and will have the option of a second practice run on Saturday.

In a session heavily delayed because of foggy weather at the top of the course and already postponed from Thursday because of adverse weather conditions, many of the skiers missed gates on what was a soft course.

That means overall times might look fast but are somewhat deceptive – while missed gates in Sunday’s race will result in disqualification.

Vonn appeared largely untroubled by her knee, which is supported by a brace, opting for an aggressive line to ensure she did not miss a gate in tough weather conditions and fist bumping compatriot Breezy Johnson after crossing the line.

After finishing the run she was asked: “All good?”

“Yup,” she replied, and walked away having said she would not speak to any media following the session.

Her Norwegian coach and double Olympic gold medallist Aksel Lund Svindal did speak to reporters and said he thinks Vonn still has a chance of winning a medal.

“From what I saw today I think she can,” he said.

“There were reserves today. She looked symmetrical. You’ve seen earlier this season that when she skis well, she can win. It’s going to be hard but I think she could possibly bring that on Sunday.”

Vonn has said that her knee is not swollen or painful and that is why she felt “confident” she could compete, posting a video on her Instagram of her doing a barbell squat in the gym on Thursday.

The four-time world champion was one of the favourites for the gold medal in Cortina prior to her injury and leads the standings in the downhill World Cup.

Chemmy Alcott, four-time Olympic Team GB skier

It’s fair to say the girls expected a much more substantial base than what they skied on in this training run – there was a lot of head bobbling entering the finish and a bit of a lack of trust.

That’s because of the warm weather – it’s kind of like a sugar coating on the top of the slope so they’re not getting that confidence or purchase on the outside ski.

For Vonn, it’s fantastic to get the run in and it all came down to experience for her.

She knows this hill, this is one of her favourite hills and watching her ski with one ACL on that terrain you could tell that she reads the terrain and knows it.

I think it will be a massive confidence boost for her, especially in these conditions where a lot of the other athletes struggled and she delivered a good performance.