Lindsey Vonn stunned by her incredible return to skiing at 40

In December 2024, Lindsey Vonn, the renowned American alpine skier, is making headlines with her unexpected comeback in skiing following a partial knee replacement surgery she underwent earlier this year. At the age of 40, Vonn surprised herself and many in the skiing community, as she initially believed her career was over due to the extensive injuries she sustained throughout her long tenure on the World Cup circuit. Vonn had officially retired in 2019 after an illustrious career spanning 18 years, during which she garnered three Winter Olympic medals, eight world championship medals, and achieved an impressive 82 World Cup race wins. The decision to return to competitive skiing came after Vonn experienced significant improvements in her physical condition post-surgery. She remarked on feeling pain-free for the first time in years and found herself motivated to try skiing again after enjoying activities like tennis without discomfort. This enthusiasm led her to participate in a couple of lower-level downhill events in Colorado, where she finished 24th and 27th in her first two races and improved to 24th and 19th in two super-G races, demonstrating a successful start to her comeback journey. Vonn expressed joy in being able to ski again, stating that she is having fun and embracing the adventure of her return. Even though she acknowledged the unpredictability of her performance and the challenge of competing with a knee replacement, her positive experience thus far has left her encouraged and eager to see how far she can take her comeback. She also noted that her past successes at the site of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina, while significant, are not a major motivating factor in her current pursuits. As Lindsey Vonn continues to push boundaries and redefine expectations with her skiing comeback, she remains focused on enjoying her journey rather than placing undue pressure on herself to achieve specific results. With the skiing world watching closely, Vonn's progress will not just be about her performance on the slopes but also about the narrative of resilience and determination that she represents in the sports community.