Dr. Leslie B Vidal’s Insights from the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games

Serving as a team physician for the U.S. Women’s Ski Team at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games was one of the greatest honors of my career. Watching elite alpine skiers push the limits of speed, strength, and precision on the world stage was unforgettable.

But behind every run down the mountain is something I understand deeply as an orthopedic surgeon: the knee is placed under extraordinary stress.

Treating Olympic-level alpine skiers sharpened my perspective on knee injuries, and reinforced lessons that apply not just to elite athletes, but to active individuals of all levels.

The Knee in Alpine Skiing: Built for Power, Tested by Force

Alpine skiing, particularly Alpine Skiing at the Winter Olympics, demands rapid deceleration, explosive turns, and high-speed directional changes. The knee absorbs rotational torque, shear forces, and compressive loads in a way few other sports require. Common knee injuries in alpine skiers include:

  • ACL tears
  • Meniscus tears
  • MCL sprains
  • Bone bruises
  • Cartilage injuries
  • Fractures in the bones above and below the knee

While the setting may be the Olympics, these are the same knee injuries I see in weekend warriors, youth athletes, and active adults in Vail, Frisco, and the greater Denver, Colorado area. The difference? At the Olympic level, the margins for error are razor thin and prevention, precision diagnosis, and rehabilitation must be exact.

Lesson #1: Most Knee Injuries Are Rotational

One of the biggest takeaways from treating elite skiers is this: most serious knee injuries are not purely impact injuries, they are caused by rotation of the knee. When a ski catches an edge or a skier lands slightly off balance, the tibia rotates against the femur. The ACL and meniscus often take the brunt of that force. If the knee rotates too far, the ACL can tear or rupture.  This type of rotational injury is the same we see in the following sports:

  • Soccer
  • Basketball
  • Pickleball
  • Ski vacations
  • Even stepping awkwardly off a curb

My extensive education in knee injuries and specifically, rotational injuries, helps to guide both treatment and prevention strategies for both Olympic competitors and other athletes.

Lesson #2: Not Every ACL Tear Is the Same

At the Olympic level, we analyze the following with each individual ACL tear:

  • Degree of ligament disruption
  • Associated meniscus damage
  • Bone bruise patterns on MRI
  • Cartilage health
  • Alignment and biomechanics

The same analysis and precision should be applied to every patient. For instance, an ACL tear in a 22-year-old competitive athlete is drastically different from an ACL tear in a 45-year-old recreational skier. Therefore, treatment must be individualized.  Treatment options might include: –

In my practice I also take into account the patient goals, health and expectations. The key is personalized orthopedic care. This is something elite athletes demand and every patient deserves.

Lesson #3: Prevention Is Powerful

Elite alpine skiers dedicate enormous time to neuromuscular training, strength development, and biomechanical analysis. For Olympic skiers, injury prevention is not optional, it is actually built into their everyday routine.

What does this mean for everyday athletes when it comes to injury prevention?

Here are a few things that every athlete should think about with injury prevention:

  • Strong hips protect knees
  • Proper landing mechanics matter
  • Fatigue increases injury risk

Targeted strength training, balance work, and sport-specific conditioning dramatically reduce the risk of ACL and meniscus injuries.

Lesson #4: Rehabilitation Is Just as Important as Surgery

At the Olympic Games, returning an athlete to competition safely requires collaboration between orthopedic surgeons, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and performance coaches.

Rehabilitation after an injury focuses on:

  • Restoring full range of motion
  • Regaining quadriceps strength
  • Rebuilding proprioception
  • Gradual return-to-sport progression

This same team-based approach benefits every patient recovering from knee surgery.

Surgery may fix the ligament, but proper rehabilitation restores the athlete.

Lesson #5: The Human Element Matters

One of the most meaningful lessons from the Milano Cortina Games wasn’t purely medical. There is a lot of psychological preparation. At the end of the day, athletes are “normal” people.

  • Elite athletes feel fear
  • They worry about their careers
  • They want reassurance and clarity
  • They want a solid medical team, backing them up

The emotional side of a knee injury is real, whether you’re competing for Olympic gold or trying to get back to hiking, tennis, or skiing with your family. As an orthopedic surgeon, I’ve found that listening matters. It’s vital to hear and understand the emotions a patient is experiencing. It is also very important to explain the diagnosis clearly while setting realistic expectations.

From the Olympic Slopes to Everyday Orthopedic Care:

Treating elite alpine skiers reinforced what I believe at the core of my practice in orthopedic sports medicine:

  • Precision matters
  • Early diagnosis improves outcomes
  • Individualized treatment plans lead to better recovery
  • Prevention is just as important as repair

Whether you’re an elite skier, a competitive athlete, or simply someone who enjoys staying active, knee injuries deserve expert evaluation and thoughtful care.

The same principles that guide Olympic-level sports medicine apply to every patient I treat, with the same commitment to helping you move confidently again.

 

View from the top of Cortina

View from the downhill race start as the sun rises over Cortina