American Alpine skiing icon Lindsey Vonn, who retired in 2019 at age 34 citing irreparable damage to her body — particularly her knees — has staged one of the most astonishing comebacks in sports history. After undergoing successful knee replacement surgery in 2024, which involved titanium implants, Vonn announced her return to competitive skiing at age 40. What began as a tentative bid to race again has evolved into a dominant season, positioning her as a serious contender for gold at the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Vonn originally stepped away after a storied career that included 82 World Cup victories (a women’s record at the time), four overall World Cup titles, and three Olympic medals: downhill gold in Vancouver 2010, plus bronzes in super-G (2010) and downhill (2018). Her retirement message was clear: her body was “broken beyond repair.” Yet, inspired partly by the fact that the 2026 Games will feature Alpine skiing events in Cortina d’Ampezzo — a venue where she has won a record 12 World Cup races and calls her “favorite” — Vonn reignited her passion.
Since returning to the World Cup circuit in late 2024, Vonn has defied age and skepticism. In the current 2025-26 season, she has been unstoppable in the downhill discipline, the event where she claimed Olympic gold in 2010.
Here are some highlights of her strong start:
She secured her first World Cup victory in nearly eight years in St. Moritz, becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner in history at 41.
In four downhill races so far, she has stood on the podium every time, including two wins.
Her latest triumph came on January 10, 2026, in a shortened downhill in Zauchensee, Austria, where she clocked speeds up to 81 mph and extended her lead in the discipline standings (with 340 points, well ahead of rivals).
This performance has not only kept her at the top of the World Cup downhill leaderboard but also secured her qualification for the U.S. Olympic team in the downhill — marking her fifth and final Olympics. Vonn has described the qualification as “an amazing feeling” and emphasized her focus on enjoying the process while giving her best at every start.
With the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics set to run from February 6 to 22, 2026 (women’s downhill scheduled for February 8 on Cortina’s iconic Tofane course), Vonn enters as one of the favorites. Her vast experience on the Cortina slope, combined with her current form, gives her a unique edge over younger competitors — some of whom weren’t even born when she made her World Cup debut.
Experts and journalists, including those featured in recent discussions like the BBC’s “More Than The Score” podcast, highlight the intense preparation, her mindset against rising stars, and the buzz in Italy surrounding her return alongside local heroes like Federica Brignone and Sofia Goggia.
Vonn, coached by former Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal, has spoken confidently about her balance and enjoyment of speed. As she puts it, she’s “really in balance” and ready to compete at the highest level.
Whether she adds another Olympic gold to her legacy remains to be seen, but Lindsey Vonn’s journey has already inspired millions — proving that with determination, surgery, and sheer will, some champions refuse to fade away. The world will be watching as she takes to the start gate in Cortina next month.
