Olympic icon Lindsey Vonn just won’t quit! Barely a week after a devastating ACL tear in her left knee, the 41-year-old ski legend roared back onto the slopes in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, launching her hunt for another Olympic gold with a gutsy Friday training run—just 48 hours before the downhill showdown. The Colorado superstar, strapped up with a hefty brace, dared to chase speed while plenty of her rivals would be sidelined for the season, or even for good, nursing such an injury.

It was a ride full of drama. Vonn cut things razor-close mid-run, barely sneaking by a gate—her line tighter than the tension gripping the mountain. She powered through the all-important time checks in the lead, but eased up before the finish, coasting into 11th as the field logged their first official Olympian runs of the famed Olympia delle Tofane course.

Norwegian downhill great—and now Vonn coach—Aksel Lund Svindal sized up her effort, declaring, “She was smart. She didn’t go all-in. She made a mistake on the bottom, but the rest looked like just good skiing, but no big risk. And to me it looked symmetrical.”

Emotions ran high at the finish line, with Vonn exchanging fist bumps and a heartfelt hug with teammate Breezy Johnson, fresh off her own ninth-place finish. The moment came after a nail-biting hour-long weather delay thanks to Cortina’s notorious mountain fog.

When The Associated Press asked, ‘Did the run go to plan?’ Vonn kept it cool with a simple, “Yep,” before hustling away for more rehabilitation on her battered knee. The comeback queen’s eyes are still locked on the prize, and she’s not letting pain stand in her way, having told fans on social media, “Nothing makes me happier! No one would have believed I would be here. But I made it!! I’m here, I’m smiling and no matter what, I know how lucky I am. I’m not going to waste this chance. Let’s go get it!!”

If that doesn’t scream determination, what does?

Vonn stopped the clock 1.39 seconds back from teammate Jacqueline Wiles—the day’s speed demon and fastest woman on the slope. Wiles, who has twice reached the podium in Cortina, now stands as a serious medal hope herself.

Does Vonn have what it takes to claim a spot on the podium with one good leg and an iron will? Coach Svindal believes so: “I think she can because there was reserves today. You’ve seen earlier this season when she skis well she can win, and from what I saw today, I think she can. It’s going to be hard, but I think she could possibly bring that on Sunday.”

Just two years ago, Vonn went under the knife for a partial titanium implant in her right knee before shocking the world with her comeback last season, ending almost six years of retirement. But disaster struck again last Friday at the final World Cup downhill in Crans-Montana—airlifted off the Swiss slopes, her Olympic dreams looked dashed. But Vonn silenced the doubters that very day online: “My Olympic dream is not over.”

Inside Team Vonn, the vibe is positive and full-steam-ahead. As Svindal reveals, “We’re all positive, but she’s awesome. She was the first one to say that, ‘This is happening, we’re racing.’” Even Thursday’s weather drama—with opening training canceled—couldn’t slow down this comeback tale.

Lindsey Vonn is back, bruised but not broken, and all eyes are on Sunday’s big race to see if her Hollywood-worthy return ends with a golden finish.