Out of Retirement: Lindsey Vonn’s Shocking Comeback
After dominating alpine skiing for nearly two decades and retiring as the most decorated female downhill skier in history, Lindsey Vonn is back on the World Cup circuit. At forty, she’s racing competitors half her age and is doing so with a completely new knee. Years of injuries, surgeries, and setbacks had forced her off the slopes, but a successful partial knee replacement in April 2024 sparked her return to the sport she loves.
“I can do so much more than I could in the last few years of my career,” Vonn says. Stronger and more flexible than before, she’s lifting heavier weights and jumping higher than ever. For Vonn, the comeback is about possibility, not proving a point.
Rebuilding Body and Mind
Vonn’s journey back to competition wasn’t just physical it demanded a total reset. After a punishing crash in late 2018, she left the sport in pain and exhaustion, both physically and mentally. Retirement brought its own struggles, forcing her to confront life outside of skiing and rediscover her sense of self. Through therapy, reflection, and even rewriting her memoir from scratch, Vonn gradually rebuilt her confidence.
Extreme water sports in Miami gave her a new lease on life. For the first time in years, she didn’t feel the pain in her knee. But daily life remained limited until her knee replacement. The transformation was immediate. “I was having a hard time living my life,” she recalls, but post-surgery, the possibilities reopened.
Racing Results: Defying the Odds at Forty
Vonn’s return to the circuit has already made history. In her first season back, she consistently ranked among the top American finishers, and by March, she’d claimed a World Cup silver medal becoming the oldest woman ever to finish on the podium at a World Cup event. The milestone capped a season of unexpected success for the veteran athlete.
Training, however, presented its own set of challenges. The freedom of retirement had given way to the familiar grind of travel, coaching schedules, and missed family events. “When you’re living out of your suitcase for months at a time, it’s a challenge to reset,” she admits.
Public Scrutiny and Private Growth
Not all aspects of Vonn’s return have been smooth. Her social media post about rival Mikaela Shiffrin who surpassed Vonn’s World Cup wins sparked controversy when she remarked that she wasn’t surprised Shiffrin pulled out of a key event. The comment, later deleted, reignited an old rivalry and drew criticism. Vonn, always candid, acknowledges her mistakes: “I get emotional because I care a lot. And I make mistakes. It’s never my intention to cause harm … but I am so far from perfect.”
Life Beyond the Finish Line
Vonn’s approach to her career has shifted dramatically. Raised on skis from before age three, her whole family moved for her racing dreams. Now, she feels liberated from old expectations. “When I opened this door, to the comeback, I felt like it was not really a new chapter but an entirely new book. I feel no expectation. I feel no pressure.”
- Vonn’s comeback is fueled by personal curiosity, not outside demands.
- She’s focused on health and happiness over records.
- Her perspective on rivalry, pressure, and purpose has evolved.
- Family and personal discovery now matter as much as medals.
Eyes on Milano Cortina: One Last Olympic Dream
Vonn’s top goal is clear: the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. Returning to her favorite mountain for one last shot at gold remains her biggest motivation. After that, she plans to leave competition behind for good and continue building a life outside the sport.
“Skiing has given me everything in my life, and it’s also taken almost everything. It’s interesting that I love something so much that has hurt me so much. It’s my first love. I’m not looking to be married to it. I’m just looking to have it be in my life in a way that makes me happy.”
Racing Forward, On Her Own Terms
Lindsey Vonn’s return is more than a comeback it’s a reimagining of what it means to compete, to heal, and to pursue joy. Whether she wins gold in Italy or simply reclaims her own narrative, Vonn is once again racing at full speed, guided by her own definition of success.
