Lindsey Vonn, the legendary American alpine skier, is no stranger to defying odds. At 40, after a six-year retirement and a partial knee replacement, Vonn is charging toward the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics with a fire that’s as fierce as ever. Her recent podium finish at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Finals in Sun Valley—her first in over 2,500 days—sent a clear message to doubters: she’s back, and she’s not slowing down. “It’s been a rough season of people saying that I can’t, that I’m too old, that I’m not good enough anymore, and I think I proved everyone wrong,” Vonn declared, her words resonating with the grit and determination that have defined her storied career.
Vonn’s journey to this moment has been anything but conventional. After retiring in 2019 following a string of injuries, including a devastating knee injury that forced her to miss the 2014 Sochi Olympics, the four-time Olympian thought her competitive days were behind her. But a successful partial knee replacement in April 2024 changed everything. “My body feels amazing,” Vonn told NBC. “I feel better than I did in the last Olympics, by a lot actually.” Her pain-free return to the slopes sparked an improbable comeback, announced in November 2024, with the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, as her ultimate goal.
The 2024-25 World Cup season has been a test run for Vonn, who rejoined the U.S. Ski Team to fine-tune her equipment and rediscover her racing rhythm. Despite early challenges, including four DNFs (Did Not Finish) and a crash in Cortina, her resilience shone through. In St. Anton, Austria, she stunned the skiing world with a sixth-place finish in downhill and a fourth in super-G, just weeks into her return. Her second-place finish in the super-G at Sun Valley cemented her belief that she still has what it takes. “I always knew that I could, but this gives me a lot of confidence going into next year,” she told Olympics.com.
Vonn’s preparation for the 2026 Olympics is as mental as it is physical. She’s embraced a new mindset, shedding the pressure to win every race that defined her earlier career. “When I was racing before, my expectation was to win every time, and nothing outside of that was good enough,” she told ESPN. “Now, I feel very light.” This perspective, combined with her unparalleled experience on Cortina’s slopes—where she holds a record 12 World Cup victories—makes her a formidable contender. “I will definitely be the oldest, but also the most experienced on that track,” she said, eyeing a historic medal at 41, a feat no female ski racer has achieved.
Off the slopes, Vonn’s training regimen is relentless. She shared glimpses of her grueling core workouts on Instagram, revealing sessions lasting over an hour, four to five days a week, to build the strength needed for high-speed descents. She’s also enlisted former ski great Aksel Lund Svindal as her coach, a partnership that’s turning heads in the skiing world. “When you combine the two mega forces of the skiing world, you know the 2026 Winter Olympics is going to be an event you cannot take your eyes off,” wrote EssentiallySports.
Vonn’s comeback is about more than personal glory. She’s become a beacon of inspiration, particularly for women her age. “I think this allows people to dream bigger,” she told ESPN. “Especially women. We’re put in a box that we need to be doing ‘this’ by a certain time. And that’s not true.” Fans have rallied behind her, with strangers approaching her in airports and hotels to cheer her on. “They’d say, ‘I’m so proud you’re trying again,’” Vonn shared with The New York Times, noting how her journey transcends sports.
As she gears up for the 2025-26 World Cup season, starting in late October, Vonn is focused on earning a spot among the top four American skiers in downhill and super-G to qualify for the Olympics. A new wild-card rule for former champions could give her an edge, allowing her to bypass the rankings grind and secure prime starting positions. With Cortina’s slopes calling—where she first “figured it out” 21 years ago with her first World Cup podium—Vonn is poised to write the perfect final chapter.
“This is not something that I ever expected,” Vonn told NBC. “I’m going in looking to enjoy the experience, looking to be at a place that I love, that I’ve had a lot of success at.” Whether she medals or not, Vonn’s return is a testament to her unyielding spirit. As she put it, “I never stopped believing in myself.” The skiing world, and fans worldwide, will be watching as she storms toward Milano-Cortina 2026, ready to carve her name into Olympic history one last time.
