Lindsey Vonn, the decorated American skier, stated Tuesday that she has “nothing to prove” as she gears up for an Olympic return at 41, over 20 years after her debut Games.
Speaking at the Team USA Olympic Media Summit in advance of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, Vonn dismissed concerns about damaging her storied career following her retirement hiatus and recent comeback.
“Nobody recalls Michael Jordan’s return,” Vonn remarked, referencing the basketball legend’s post-retirement stints. “It didn’t diminish his legacy in the slightest. … I’ve already achieved success. I’ve already triumphed.”
Her path back to competition was enabled by a partial knee replacement in spring 2024. Vonn is targeting a final run in Cortina, Italy—a venue she holds dear, where she earned her first World Cup podium and later shattered the women’s record for career victories. She described it as an ideal finale.
“I wouldn’t have attempted this comeback if the Olympics weren’t in Cortina,” Vonn explained. “Anywhere else, and I’d likely deem it not worthwhile. But Cortina has a unique draw for me—it’s summoning me back for one final time.”
