American alpine racer Lauren Macuga is out for the remainder of the 2025–26 season after suffering an ACL injury in a training crash at Copper Mountain, Colorado. The 23-year-old shared the news with her trademark humor on Instagram, posting a light-hearted message alongside a news-mock up video of her crash. Despite her upbeat tone, the injury is a major setback after her breakthrough on the World Cup circuit last winter.
“BREAKING NEWS
It’s me, I’m what’s broken RIP acl, see you all next year ”
— Lauren Macuga Instagram
View this post on Instagram
The U.S. Ski Team later confirmed the injury on its official channels, noting that Macuga will undergo surgery and begin a long rehabilitation process in the coming weeks.
“Sending so much love to America’s sweetheart❤️
@lauren_macuga fell in training on Friday morning and injured her right knee, which will require surgery. She’ll miss the remainder of the season. We know she’ll be coming back stronger ”
— U.S. Ski Team Instagram
Macuga had won heads and hearts with her breakout 2024–25 season, during which she secured her first World Cup victory (and podium) and established herself as one of the most promising young speed skiers on the American team. She rounded out the season with a bronze medal at the 2025 World Championships in Saalbach, Austria. Coaches had high hopes for her heading into the Olympic lead-up period, with Macuga positioned as a rising contender in Downhill and Super-G.
- Related: USA’s Lauren Macuga Claims Historic Super-G Victory at FIS Alpine World Cup in St. Anton, Austria
The injury also brings an end to a unique family dream: the chance to see all three Macuga sisters compete at the 2026 Olympics. Lauren’s younger sister Alli Macuga is a World Cup moguls skier, while the youngest sister Sam Macuga competes in World Cup ski jumping. All three athletes grew up in Park City, Utah, and the family had spoken openly about their shared goal of representing the United States together on the Olympic stage.
With Lauren Macuga now sidelined, the focus turns to her recovery and long-term comeback. It is a tough setback in an Olympic season, but at 23 years of age, the young skier can set her sights on the 2030 Olympics.
