If you’ve been watching Lindsey Vonn’s social media lately, you can tell something’s different. The sweat is real. The grind is relentless. The workouts? Intense enough to humble athletes half her age. From kettlebell crunches to single-leg squats, her training clips aren’t just about staying fit; they’re about sending a message. After retiring in 2019 due to chronic knee pain, no one expected a return. But earlier this year, Vonn stunned the world by placing second in the Super-G at the World Cup Finals, becoming the oldest woman ever to stand on a World Cup podium. “Never in a million years would I have ever expected to be back here,” she admitted. Now, she’s dropped another major update about her future.
But before we get to that, let’s rewind a bit. When she retired from the sport, the moment wasn’t just about a medal; it was about rediscovering what she thought she’d lost. “When I retired, I was emotional. That was the end, and I definitely wish that it hadn’t been,” Vonn confessed. “But my body was no longer cooperating.” A partial knee replacement changed everything, giving her back the one thing she wasn’t ready to let go of—skiing.
While critics called her too old, too injured, or simply out of time, Vonn stayed locked in. “I’ve been lucky enough to have the chance again,” she said—and this time, she’s doing it on her terms. Her Instagram is filled with proof: hours of high-impact strength work, explosive moves, and precise technique.
It’s more than just workouts, it’s war prep. “There are no weekends off when your goal is the Olympics,” she recently told fans. She’s not just chasing a comeback; she’s chasing closure. A final chapter. A final run. And it all leads to Milan-Cortina 2026. That’s the destination. The mission. The final test. “I think I’ve been in the best shape that I’ve ever been in my life,” Vonn said. “I feel incredible and I’m really looking forward to making one final run at the Olympics.” No one thought she’d make it this far, but then again, they’ve never known the full force of Lindsey Vonn. Let the critics talk, her legacy speaks louder. What? Yes.
Too old? Too late? Lindsey Vonn is proving everyone wrong
Lindsey Vonn is undoubtedly one of the greatest alpine skiers of all time. Having won 82 times in the World Cup in downhill, super-G, slalom, and combinations, she had previously held the overall women’s wins record until it was broken by Mikaela Shiffrin. She is the first and only American female to gold at an Olympic event in downhill (Vancouver 2010), and she has eight World Championship medals to her credit. However, in December 2024, when she once again came to alpine skiing at the age of 40, those record-breaking achievements appeared to be forgotten in exchange for skepticism, disbelief, and headlines that aimed at questioning her intentions.
Her return told a lot. Having completed 14th on her debut super-G at St. Moritz, a few weeks later in St. Anton, she came in sixth position, smiling, “I know I can be faster.” She confirmed it at the World Cup Finals at Sun Valley, by winning silver in super-G, where she became the oldest female to be on the podium in a World Cup race ever. U.S. Ski & Snowboard CEO Sophie Goldschmidt called it “a fantastic way to end the season… to be doing this at 40, with a lot of naysayers, shows she can still reach the top.” Her FIS points confirmed her qualification to the Milan-Cortina 2026, at which she intends to make one last Olympic stop.
Still, the road back wasn’t paved with applause. Critics on social media and some respected voices in skiing dismissed her. Austria’s Franz Klammer said Lindsey Vonn had “gone completely mad,” while Swiss icon Pirmin Zurbriggen accused her of failing to “recognize the meaning and purpose of her other life.” Vonn, ever defiant, hit back: “People who don’t believe in me… say I’m too old and slow… but don’t worry, I’m not going to give up. I believe in myself.” Despite the sting of criticism, she let it fuel her. “There have been so many negative voices,” she wrote, “but with hard work I will get to where I dream of going.” Now, with her rebuilt knee, relentless drive, and something to prove, Vonn isn’t just back, she’s rewriting what it means to be a champion.
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