Three-time Olympic medalist and four-time World Champion skier Lindsey Vonn is making a stunning return to skiing at the age of 40, five years after her retirement following the 2018 Winter Olympics. The announcement was made in an article by The New York Times on Thursday.
After spending the summer and fall training in New Zealand and Europe, Vonn is set to rejoin the U.S. Ski and Snowboard team this weekend for training sessions in Colorado.
Reasons for Vonn’s Comeback
Vonn’s decision to return is closely tied to her right knee, which has been severely injured over her career. After multiple surgeries, she had been unable to ski or even walk without pain for an extended period.
This chronic pain was a significant factor in her initial retirement.
Earlier this year, Vonn opted for knee replacement surgery in hopes of achieving a pain-free life. The results were remarkable. Just one month post-surgery, she reported being able to straighten her leg for the first time in a decade. Soon after, she was performing leg-strengthening exercises that had been impossible for eight years.
When she returned to skiing after her surgery, Vonn was pleasantly surprised by how well she performed. Her initial runs were so successful that she reached out to her former coach, leading them both to New Zealand for further training. Vonn began tackling the slopes with a vigor she hadn’t experienced in years.
“I had been able to get stronger by then and could really start pushing my knee, and all that went really well,” Vonn shared. “I was doing 15 runs. I haven’t done 15 runs in one day since my mid-20s.”
Future Aspirations
While Vonn is excited about her return, she remains cautious about her expectations. She has not committed to competing at the 2026 Olympics just yet but acknowledges her love for racing. “I’m trying not to get too far ahead of myself because I have quite a few hoops to jump through,” she said. “Obviously, I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t hope to be racing.”
Vonn expressed her aspirations clearly: “My goal is to enjoy this, and hopefully that road takes me to World Cup races. I wouldn’t be back on the U.S. ski team if I didn’t have intentions.”
The 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics are just 15 months away. Although she didn’t make any promises, Vonn couldn’t hide her enthusiasm for potentially returning to one of her favorite courses in Cortina. “I’ve always enjoyed racing in Cortina and I’ve had a lot of success there,” she noted.
Vonn understands the challenges ahead but remains optimistic about what lies ahead: “I don’t know what the next few months and the next year and a half hold for me. So I can’t say right now if it’s a possibility.”
However, she added with conviction, “But I think everyone knows how much I love Cortina.”
Despite uncertainty about her future competitions, Lindsey Vonn’s determination remains strong. If she finds herself at the top of Cortina in 15 months, ready to race down the snowy slopes once again, it would not come as a surprise to anyone who knows her tenacity and spirit.
Related topics:
