Unpopular opininion

[NoRethugFriends]

Lindsey Vonn.
I have zero sympathy for her, competing a few days after totally tearing her ACL.
Frigging dumb ego trip that couldn't have ended any other way.

[Tommy Carcetti]

1. She wasn't risking anyone's body but her own.

Maybe a little bit of hubris, but I don't hate her for it.

We all want to push until we can't push any more. That's just natural. My dad is in his 80s and he still does competitive swim races.

I'm sure she'll recover and she'll still have a legacy of gold medals to speak for. Good for her.

[RPM]

23. Did some young up and comer lose a spot to compete for this ego-trip

There's the real victim.

[Clouds Passing]

2. Kinda like an episode from Resident Alien

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8690918

❤️ melts 🥶

[MineralMan]

3. Yeah, well, OK, then.

She took a chance. Didn't work out. She did great on her warmup run, but not in the actual competition run.

She gave it a shot, though. Credit for that.

You have no sympathy for her? That says more about you than about her, I'm thinking.

[NoRethugFriends]

7. She didn't take a chance. It had to happen. Having torn both ACLs, I know

Just an Ego trip

[MineralMan]

11. I have no doubt that world class athletes have large egos.

I doubt they could do what they without that.

The only one hurt today was her. Her choice to take that chance. Like I said, I saw her warm-up run yesterday and she was doing just fine at about 90% of all-out. I don't think it was her knee that failed today. I read that she clipped a pole with her elbow.

None of my business, really. She gave it her best shot.

[stopdiggin]

16. "I know"

and what was that other thing ..? Oh, yeah .. "Ego trip"
(pretty much says it .... )

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[dutch777]

10. Totally agree. My biggest concern for younger generations today is their seeming reluctance to going for it.

Sure, in addition to the basic sporting competitive spirit I suspect Lindsey was thinking beyond and how she can monetize her fame. But she put herself and her own health on the line, not preyed on others as many do to make their millions.

[FakeNoose]

4. It should not have been her decision to make

The USA ski team has coaches and team doctors who should have told her she CAN'T compete. But apparently nobody did.

[NoRethugFriends]

8. Perfect!

[Disaffected]

12. Exactly.

She should have been replaced with a team member in a better position to compete.

[TexasBushwhacker]

13. Her decision to compete while injured

Meant that another athlete DID NOT get to compete.

[EdmondDantes_]

17. I don't believe anyone could have taken her place

Her injury happened less than 2 weeks ago. The Olympic team was already set.

[Disaffected]

19. I dunno, are there no subs allowed

in Olympic competition?

Looked it up - ChatGPT FWIW:

...........................

How Olympic replacement (alternate) rules generally work

Across winter sports (including alpine skiing), the framework is usually:

✅ Replacement usually allowed if:

Before final entry deadlines

If athlete is medically ruled unfit or withdraws before competition

If approved under IOC Late Athlete Replacement policy

If a qualified alternate exists and the country still has quota space

Example policy language (from winter sport selection docs):

If an athlete is unable to compete, they may be replaced by the highest-ranked alternate, subject to IOC replacement policy and sport federation rules.

Even late withdrawals can allow replacement if approved under IOC late replacement rules.

❌ Replacement usually NOT allowed if:

The athlete has already started their event

The replacement window has closed

The country has no alternate or quota slot left

The athlete chooses to compete despite injury and is still medically cleared

Applied to the Vonn situation

She qualified for the Olympics normally and held a roster spot.

She chose to race despite injury risk.

Once she started the downhill run → no replacement possible for that race.

If she had withdrawn before final confirmation or before the event window, then yes, Team USA likely could have substituted an alternate (if they had one available and approved).

One nuance people often miss

Olympic teams are quota-limited.
Even if a country has more elite athletes, they can only send a fixed number per event — so alternates are often very close in ability.

...............

[RPM]

24. She should have been done last time.

I feel bad for whomever got left behind to indulge this.

[leftstreet]

15. +1

It's really weird. Can't imagine an injured striker in a footie game being allowed to play

[sarisataka]

21. There is going to be a football game today with several players carrying injuries

They will be hailed for their toughness and playing through the pain. No one would ever suggest the coach keep one of them out if he says he can play.

[dlk]

5. Seems a harsh judgment

You may not agree with her decision but it was her choice to make.

Conditional sympathy isn’t

[justaprogressive]

6. "She went out with her boots on..."

to paraphrase Robert Duvall...her choice not yours!

[NoRethugFriends]

9. And an extra reason for no sympathy

Last edited Sun Feb 8, 2026, 07:36 PM - Edit history (1)

She dated Tiger Woods, that piece of ...

[stopdiggin]

14. yer right. 'unpopular' - because it is pointless, stupid and completely unnecessary ...

you have a right to your opinion (limited as it might be)
but some things are probably best kept ....

[Americanme]

18. Considering her age, she may have thought it was now or never.

Probably wanted to go out on top. I'm sorry it didn't work out for her.

[stopdiggin]

20. U.S. Snowboarder Gets Fourth Place In Big Air - With A Broken Arm

HuffPost Feb. 8, 2026

U.S. Snowboarder Gets Fourth Place In Big Air – With A Broken Arm

17-year-old Ollie Martin just missed a spot on the podium for Team USA, coming in fourth place in men’s snowboard big air — but the result was still very impressive considering the circumstances.

Martin broke his right arm two weeks before the Winter Olympics and the injury was bad enough that he needed surgery.

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team called out his accomplishment on X, writing, "Ollie Martin, you’re amazing! What an Olympic debut!"

[sarisataka]

22. Everyone is entitled to their opinion

And if they announce it to the world it can be very revealing