USA’s Lindsey Vonn poses with her second-place medal on the podium for the women’s Super-G event at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup Sun Valley Finals in Sun Valley, Idaho on March 23.
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images/AFP
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PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images/AFP
Lindsey Vonn, an icon in the world of skiing, has made a remarkable return to the sport after a six-year hiatus. Her decision to retire in 2018 was due to multiple injuries, particularly to her left leg, but she has now come back stronger than ever.
As detailed by NPR’s Bill Chappell, Vonn is celebrated for holding several records, notably the highest number of World Cup victories in both downhill and Super-G events, with a total of 82 wins. This places her just behind fellow American Mikaela Shiffrin and Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark. Vonn and Shiffrin are also among the few women skiers who have triumphed in all five World Cup disciplines: downhill, Super-G, giant slalom, slalom, and combined.
In her latest achievement, the 40-year-old skier made history by becoming the oldest woman to secure a medal in a World Cup race. Vonn’s outstanding performance at the World Cup finals in Sun Valley, Idaho, earned her a second-place finish in the Super-G race.
Three things to know:
- Despite her retirement due to injuries in 2018, Vonn had faced persistent knee issues throughout her career, resulting in at least nine surgeries. These challenges did not prevent her from continuing to win.
- In November 2024, Vonn announced her return to competitive skiing after undergoing a total knee replacement.
- “Getting back to skiing without pain has been an incredible journey,” Vonn stated in a release from U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “I am looking forward to being back with the Stifel U.S. Ski Team and to continue to share my knowledge of the sport with these incredible women.”
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A triumphant comeback
There was much anticipation regarding Vonn’s return to competitive skiing, which was realized on Sunday. Her second-place finish in the World Cup Super-G race, just behind Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami, marked a significant milestone.
Vonn’s achievement has made her the oldest female alpine ski racer to reach a World Cup podium, surpassing the previous record held by Austrian Alexandra Meissnitzer, who was nearly 35 years old in 2008.
“It was (expletive) hard,” Vonn shared with the Associated Press. “This is not easy what I’m doing. It just felt really good to say I did it. That I can still do it.”
With her sights set on the 2026 Winter Olympics, Vonn aims to conclude her illustrious career on a high note. She expressed her enthusiasm to NBC Sports, stating, “This is the road now to Cortina next year. And it’s begun, I’m positive, I’m happy. This is why I’m here: So I can ski in front of my home crowd, my family, and do my country proud.”
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
