Gabriele Facciotti/AP photo
Lindsey Vonn is making a strong return to the skiing world. Initially, she thought of participating in the world championships as a forerunner and maybe doing some commentary for NBC. But now her sights are set on breaking records.
At 40 years old, Vonn is ready to compete at the highest level. “I like records, I’m not going to lie,” she shared recently.
This week marks a significant moment for Vonn. Her upcoming super-G race will be her first global championship since winning a downhill bronze medal in 2019, making her the oldest female alpine medalist. Vonn is eager to inspire others and show what women can achieve in the sport.
“I have no problem taking on the old records,” she said. “There’s no reason women can’t reach the same heights as men.” Although injuries led to her retirement after an impressive 18 seasons in the World Cup, a successful knee surgery has her feeling stronger than ever. Vonn feels rejuvenated and almost surreal about returning to competition.
“I didn’t expect to be here, competing,” she said. “I thought I’d just be a forerunner.” In December, she successfully returned with a decent finish in a super-G race. Since then, her results have been impressive. She secured a sixth and a fourth place in the downhill and super-G events at St. Anton. Those finishes have boosted her confidence greatly.
“I’m fast, I’m competitive, and I’m ready to go for a medal,” Vonn declared. With eight world championship medals, including two golds, she has already proven her skill. This week in Saalbach, she was 20th in her first training run and 29th despite feeling under the weather.
Marco Trovati/AP photo
In her most recent training session, Vonn mentioned feeling a bit drained but remains hopeful. “I lacked energy on the course, but I’m going to rest and be ready for the super-G tomorrow,” she said.
While she acknowledges the pressure that comes with global competitions, Vonn is taking it in stride. “I don’t feel expectations right now,” she said, adding that her main goal is just to compete and enjoy the experience. Regardless of where she finishes, she’s proud of how far she’s come.
With the world watching, Vonn is not just back; she’s redefining what it means to be a competitive skier at any age.
