Lindsey Vonn set for World Cup comeback in St. Moritz: "I intend on getting back to where I was before"
The 40-year-old alpine skiing legend will make her first World Cup start since retiring in 2019.
Alpine Skiing
After serving as an Alpine skiing forerunner at the World Cup in Beaver Creek, Olympic legend Lindsey Vonn has announced her return to competition at the upcoming World Cup in St. Moritz, set for 21-22 December.
The Vancouver 2010 downhill champion spoke to reporters about her return to competition during a U.S. Ski Team press conference on Friday, 13 December ahead of the women's Birds of Prey speed races at Beaver Creek.
Vonn shared that her motivation for returning to competition was that "I was put back together again", referring to her April 2024 partial hip replacement surgery. Prior to this surgery she was in pain 24 hours a day, the four-time Olympian revealed, and had kept racing through the injuries and pain because of her love for ski racing.
"No injury ever held me back until it finally broke me," Vonn said.
The surgery had been been a major turning point in the skier's well-being.
"It was pretty soon after surgery in the rehab process that I was already doing things that I hadn't done in years," she said. “I feel stronger now than I did in my mid to late 20s.
"My body is cooperating. And thankfully, that titanium piece is really working out well."
With this new chance at competing, Vonn made it clear that her return to the slopes is not just about participating but winning races too.
"I definitely have goals and expectations and I'm trying to be as patient as possible with myself on this journey and take it step by step and not skip any steps," Vonn said. "I know my way back to a competitive level might take a race or two, but I certainly intend on on getting back to where I was before."
Vonn was able to secure her World Cup racing qualification by competing in two super-Gs and two downhill races at Copper Mountain in December. She took advantage of a new wildcard rule to secure entry into the St. Moritz World Cup.
Vonn intentional in decision to return to competition
The now 40-year-old racer shared that returning to competition was a well-calculated decision for her, "I didn't just whimsically rejoin the U.S. Ski Team. I took a lot of steps and a lot of very hard work.
"I had to put 100 per cent effort in to make sure that I was trying the best I could, because if I didn't, then I probably wouldn't be here right now. So I never stopped believing in myself. I never have in my whole life, and I'm not going to stop now."
Vonn added that getting back into the start gate has felt natural. Dialing in her equipment was a whole different challenge, however.
"The boots are new. It's a completely different model than I raced with a couple of years ago," Vonn explained. "I have a new technician. Those things are the fine details that need to be dialed in to be able to really be at the top of ski racing."
Lindsey Vonn shared her passion for the Olympic 2026 venue of Cortina
In addition to the U.S. Ski Team press conference, Vonn spoke to a group of reporters after finishing her forerun on Wednesday and shared her love for the legendary Tofane Olympia course at Cortina d'Ampezzo, which will serve as the Olympic race course at Milano Cortina 2026.
"When I retired, I think the number one thing I was sad about was that I couldn't race Cortina for the Olympics," Vonn said, before dropping hints about a possible Olympic comeback.
"Cortina is a very special place to me. It's where I got my first podium [January 2004], where I broke the record [37 World Cup downhill wins]. In a perfect world, yeah, that would be amazing. But again, I'm trying to stay in the present. It's a long ways to Cortina. So again, just put the brakes on my expectations and try to stay focused on today and see where I can take it."