Lindsey Vonn to end five-year retirement and rejoin US ski team aged 40

Lindsey Vonn, a three-time Olympic medalist and four-time World Cup overall champion, announced Thursday that she plans to rejoin the U.S. Ski Team in hopes of competing again this year.

The 40-year-old Minnesota native, who retired in 2019 citing the physical toll of a series of serious injuries over the course of her 18-year career, told the New York Times that she had “retired with no intention of coming back,” but was shocked to discover she was pain-free after undergoing partial replacement surgery on her right knee in April.

Vonn retired as the most decorated female ski racer in history with 82 World Cup victories, a mark since eclipsed by compatriot Mikaela Shiffrin. Her decision was influenced by numerous injuries, including serious knee problems that required multiple surgeries.

In recent months, Vonn has been spotted training in various locations, including New Zealand and the Austrian seaside resort of Sölden. These sessions have strengthened the rumors about her possible return. Vonn shared glimpses of her training on social media, showing off her progress as she focused on the super-G and downhill speed disciplines.

Vonn suggested she would target next month’s World Cup in Beaver Creek, Colorado, for her potential first competitive match since her retirement.

While she stressed the need to make consistent progress, Vonn did not rule out a bid for a fifth Olympic appearance at the 2026 Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, where Vonn competed in 12 World Cup races from 2008 to 2018 won.

“I have always enjoyed racing in Cortina and I have had a lot of success in Cortina,” she said. “I don’t know what the next few months and the next year and a half have in store for me. So I can’t say now whether it is a possibility.”