The skier Lindsey Vonn announced on Thursday her return to competitive skiing by rejoining the United States team. Vonn, who has three Olympic Winter medals to her name, intends to compete again at the age of 40, six years after her last Olympic participation. Among her achievements are a gold medal in downhill and a bronze in Super G at the Vancouver 2010 Games, and a bronze in downhill at the Pyeongchang 2018 Games.
Although her participation is not confirmed, there is a possibility that she will compete in the women's alpine skiing events in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where Vonn holds the record of 12 victories. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation has implemented a new rule allowing former champions to compete without having to recover qualification points in lower-level races, which could benefit Vonn in her return.
In the past, skier Marcel Hirscher also benefited from this rule when returning after a five-year absence. Vonn retired after her last competition in February 2019, having suffered multiple injuries throughout her career, from arm and leg fractures to concussions. Recently, in April of this year, she underwent partial knee reconstruction surgery, years after leaving competitive skiing.
After months of training, Vonn commented that "skiing again without pain has been incredible," and expressed her desire to share her knowledge with other athletes on the US team. Vonn reintegrates into the team immediately, although specific races in which she could participate have not yet been announced. The first downhill of the World Cup season will take place in Beaver Creek, Colorado, in December.
The president and CEO of the US ski and snowboard federation, Sophie Goldschmidt, praised Vonn's dedication and passion for alpine skiing and expressed excitement to have her back in competitions. The next Winter Olympic Games will take place in Italy in February 2026, and Vonn, a four-time World Cup champion and holder of eight medals in world championships, will seek to continue leaving her mark in the world of alpine skiing.
