In a stunning development that’s sent shockwaves through the ski racing world, Lindsey Vonn is making an improbable comeback to the sport she once dominated – at age 40 and with a knee made partly of titanium. The most successful female alpine skier in history had retired in 2019 due to debilitating knee injuries, but a groundbreaking partial knee replacement last year has Vonn feeling better than she has in over a decade. Suddenly pain-free, the competitive fire was reignited.
Vonn’s return to the World Cup circuit was met with skepticism, as no woman has ever won a race past age 34. But in just her second race back, a super-G in St. Anton, Austria, she finished a remarkable 6th place. In the next race, she improved to 4th. The ski racing icon is quickly proving that her comeback is no mere publicity stunt – she means business. And her sights are now firmly set on a fifth Olympic appearance next year in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, a venue where she’s won a record 12 times.
Defying Expectations is Nothing New for Vonn
While Vonn’s age and injury history make this comeback seem improbable, she’s made a career out of proving doubters wrong. As a teen phenom, she became the first American woman to win the overall World Cup title in 25 years. She went on to compile a record 82 World Cup race victories across all disciplines. She fought back from numerous devastating injuries to claim Olympic downhill gold in 2010 and bronze in 2018, becoming the oldest woman to win an Olympic alpine medal.
“I am not holding on to the past, I am embracing the future. Call me naive, but I believe in the impossible. Because it’s only impossible until someone does it.”
– Lindsey Vonn
Now, with a revolutionary knee replacement that has eliminated the chronic pain that plagued her final years of competition, Vonn appears rejuvenated in both body and spirit. She’s attacking the mountain with the same vigor and fearlessness that defined her illustrious first act. And she’s quickly getting back up to speed on the World Cup, one of the most demanding circuits in sports.
Vonn Aiming to Join Elite Club of 40+ Champions
By returning to the pinnacle of her sport in her 40s, Vonn is seeking to join rarefied company. A small but growing contingent of world-class athletes have enjoyed remarkable success and longevity well into the second half of their careers:
- Tom Brady winning Super Bowls at ages 41 and 43
- Serena Williams winning her 23rd grand slam at age 35
- Roger Federer remaining a slam threat into his late 30s
- Kelly Slater claiming a record 11th surfing world title at 39
No ski racer, male or female, has stood atop a World Cup podium after their 40th birthday. The oldest woman to win a World Cup race was Michaela Dorfmeister at 33. The oldest man was Didier Cuche at 37. If the legendary Vonn can end a victory drought that dates back to 2018, it would be one of the most remarkable accomplishments of her storied career.
Medical Advancements Help Fuel Vonn’s Revival
Vonn credits her astonishing recovery to a groundbreaking robotic-assisted knee replacement procedure performed last year by Dr. Martin Roche. The minimally invasive surgery and subsequent rehab enabled her to regain strength and range of motion that she hadn’t experienced in years. Combined with her renowned fitness regimen and finely tuned skiing acumen, it’s put a world-beating Vonn back on the mountain.
“[The knee replacement] has changed my life entirely. I knew that there were some technological advances in the medical field that potentially could help me, but I never imagined that I’d come out of surgery and within a few days have a completely different life…I literally don’t think about the knee at all. Which is crazy, because that’s all I’ve thought about for the last 11 years.”
– Lindsey Vonn
Vonn now returns to the site of so many of her greatest triumphs – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – where she’ll race downhill and super-G this weekend. It’s the same venue that will host the alpine skiing events at next year’s 2026 Winter Olympics. The opportunity to compete for more precious metal in the twilight of her career, on her favorite track, seems almost poetic.
While the obstacles remain formidable for an athlete of Vonn’s age and mileage, she’s long had a knack for achieving what was previously thought impossible. Now pain-free and reenergized, Lindsey Vonn has her steely gaze locked on the next unthinkable goal – Olympic glory at age 41. Don’t bet against her.
