Olympic legend Lindsey Vonn is proving age is just a number—and doubters are just noise.
In a stunning new cover story for SELF magazine’s latest issue (out now), the 41-year-old skiing icon opens up about her high-stakes return to competition ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics. After retiring in 2019 as the most decorated female alpine skier in history—with 84 World Cup wins, four overall titles, and three Olympic medals—Vonn is back on the slopes, training hard and shutting down speculation about her motives.
“This is 24 years after my first Olympics. I’ve won everything I could have ever won. I’m not doing this to prove anything to anyone,” Vonn declares in the interview. “I’m doing this for me 😊”
The feature, titled “Lindsey Vonn Doesn’t Need Your Permission,” highlights how the skier is rewriting expectations about what’s possible later in life. Far from missing the spotlight, Vonn describes the post-retirement years as the best of her life—now she’s simply choosing to chase one more meaningful run because she believes she can still compete at the highest level and make a positive impact.
The glamorous photoshoot, described as an “Italian Winter Wonderland” vibe, shows Vonn radiating confidence in stunning winter looks. She shouted out the creative team on social media.
