Lindsey Vonn, the American Alpine skiing icon, appears poised for another chapter in her remarkable comeback story, teasing fans with a single-word social media post: “Defrosting.” The 41-year-old, who retired in 2019 only to unretire last season amid a surge of determination, shared the enigmatic message amid final preparations for the 2025/26 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup, which kicks off this weekend in Sölden, Austria.
Vonn’s post, interpreted by many as a nod to shaking off the offseason rust after a successful return to competition, underscores her relentless pursuit of excellence. “Defrosting” evokes the image of a skier emerging from hibernation, ready to carve high-speed lines down the mountain once more. It comes just days after U.S. Ski & Snowboard announced the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team roster, headlined by Vonn alongside fellow Olympic medalists Mikaela Shiffrin and Breezy Johnson.eeded7 The selection confirms Vonn’s place on the squad, where she aims to bolster her record 82 World Cup victories and secure a spot on her fifth Olympic team for Milano Cortina 2026.2c2961
Last season marked Vonn’s triumphant reentry into elite racing following a partial knee replacement in April 2024 that alleviated chronic pain from her storied career. Benefiting from a new FIS regulation granting wild-card entries to former champions, she debuted at the FIS Fall Festival in Colorado in December 2024, followed by competitive finishes including 14th in Super-G at St. Moritz, sixth and fourth in St. Anton, and a 15th-place showing in the downhill at the 2025 Alpine Ski World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm.d1bf9f159b75 Her season culminated in a historic silver medal in Super-G at the World Cup Finals in Sun Valley, Idaho, where she became the oldest woman ever to podium in a FIS Alpine World Cup event—at age 40—edging out challengers and silencing doubters. “I proved everyone wrong,” Vonn declared post-race, emphasizing her love for the sport’s adrenaline rush.d97c8dfe4edd
Now, with the benefit of former Norwegian Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal on her coaching team—a partnership announced in August 2025—Vonn is laser-focused on speed events like downhill and Super-G.99b8df Her history in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the host site for women’s Alpine events at the 2026 Olympics, adds personal stakes: She boasts 12 World Cup wins there, making it a symbolic battleground for what she has described as her final Olympic push before a definitive retirement in 2027.2ce661618e3a
The 2025/26 World Cup calendar features 37 women’s events across disciplines, including U.S. stops at Copper Mountain in November and a potential nod to Vonn’s home-state prowess.fd539b Vonn, a four-time overall World Cup champion and three-time Olympic medalist, has long been a trailblazer, inspiring generations with her resilience. Her return not only elevates the competition but also highlights the evolving landscape of Alpine skiing, where age is no barrier to greatness.
As the season unfolds, Vonn’s “Defrosting” serves as both a personal mantra and a rallying cry. With Shiffrin headlining the technical fields and Vonn anchoring the speed side, the U.S. team enters the year with medal aspirations burning bright. Live coverage of the Sölden opener—giant slalom races on October 25-26—begins on NBC Sports, Peacock, and Olympics.com, setting the stage for what promises to be Vonn’s most anticipated campaign yet.
