Alpine Skiing
Lindsey Vonn's bold comeback to alpine skiing - a timeline
Alpine skiing legend Lindsey Vonn has become the oldest woman to podium in the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup and is now chasing one last medal. Dive into the story of her fearless return to racing here.
Lindsey Vonn’s comeback to top level alpine ski racing is a rare and inspirational feat in professional sports.
Less than a year after a partial knee replacement surgery in April 2024, with fearless turns and bold racing the 41-year-old record-breaking American has already stunned by returning to the World Cup podium with second place in the Super-G at the Sun Valley round in March 2025 and competing at the FIS Alpine Skiing World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm and beyond.
Now, all eyes are on what the 20-time crystal globe winner can do as the 2026 season approaches and she sets her sights on skiing to one more medal on the biggest stage of all at Milano-Cortina, on her favourite mountain.
Lindsey Vonn ended comeback season strong. Now she's ready for a huge 2026
© Erich Spiess/Red Bull Content Pool
01
Turning 41 and making the cover of TIME magazine
With preparations for her 2025–26 season and one final Winter Games appearance in Milano-Cortina well underway, Vonn celebrated a massive month in October. Not only did she celebrate her 41st birthday, but also becoming the cover star of renowned American current affairs magazine, TIME.
It's a huge achievement to be the TIME cover star and Vonn was rightly thrilled at receiving the honour, saying on her Instagram account: "I'm just a girl from Minnesota who wanted to ski fast, but this cover means I've done a lot more in my life than just ski fast. I'm still chasing dreams, still pushing limits, still believing in what's possible. My hope is that anyone reading this remembers: never give up on yourself."
On October 28, Vonn also took part in the Team USA Media Summit in New York City, where she laid out her plans for the early FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup rounds and her hopes of representing the United States one last time in Milano Cortina.
After training at Copper Mountain in Colorado, she stated that she plans to race the St. Moritz round of the World Cup on December 10–14 and compete in downhill, Super-G and the combined in Cortina should she be selected for Team USA.
"That’s dependent on results, but that is my intent,” Vonn said from the stage. "There's not a world in which I would be happy with not qualifying for the Olympics, but I don’t think that’s in the cards.
“I don’t think I would have tried this comeback if the Games weren’t in Cortina," she added. “If it had been anywhere else, I would probably say it’s not worth it. But, for me, there’s something special about Cortina that always pulls me back and it’s pulled me back one last time.”
There's not a world in which I would be happy with not qualifying for the Olympics, but I don’t think that’s in the cards
02
A stunning second in Sun Valley
After the World Championships, Vonn continued to work hard on her comeback throughout the rest of the 2024-25 season, with encouraging results and setbacks all taken in her stride as she strove to improve race-by-race. It was in Sun Valley in March that she gained the tangible reward her dedication deserved. At the final Super-G race of the season, she finished a brilliant second behind Swiss star Lara Gut-Behrami, becoming the the oldest woman to podium at the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup.
Second in Sun Valley made Vonn the oldest World Cup podium finsher ever
© Erich Spiess/Red Bull Content Pool
This is where I knew I can be: I know I have the speed
Vonn, who has 28 Super G wins and five Super G titles to her name, said: "I finally put all the pieces together. This season there have been glimpses of good skiing, but I always made a mistake here or there. But today it was enough to get on the podium. It wasn't a perfect run, but at least I didn't make mistakes like I have this season. And this is where I knew I can be: I know I have the speed."
On returning from her long knee injury, she added: "It's really emotional, because as much as I love this journey, it has not been an easy one. Today makes it all worth it."
03
A month of struggles and Vonn's determination for World Championship success
January presented challenges for Lindsey Vonn, as she fought to regain stability and break back into the top 10. Despite crashing out of World Cup races in Cortina and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and finishing outside the top 10 in her other starts, Vonn remained undeterred.
Vonn with her US team-mates
© Erich Spiess/Red Bull Content Pool
Ahead of her first start at the World Championships in year, she revealed on social media that she was battling a cold or flu, but assured fans and competitors: "Don’t worry, I wouldn’t let something like that prevent me from racing after everything I've gone through to get here!' She also hinted at her long-term ambition of making the next U.S. Olympic team, sharing, "If everything doesn’t fit together tomorrow, that’s okay. I still have 368 days to figure it out."
With her trademark grit and determination, Vonn was clearly focused on embracing every moment of this comeback journey, leaving fans hopeful for the season ahead.
04
St Anton: getting closer to the podium with 4th in Super-G
On January 11 in St Anton, Vonn achieved an impressive fourth-place finish in the Super-G, finishing just 1.24s behind the winner and fellow American, Lauren Macuga, who claimed her first World Cup win. Austria’s Stephanie Venier and Italy’s Federica Brignone completed the podium.
Vonn showed in St. Aton that she still had the speed to really compete
© Johann Groder/Red Bull Content Pool
Now I just have to get that last 10-15 percent that I know I can get to
"It was a really good step forward," Vonn said.""I was a little bit more active today, but the conditions weren't easy. I made some pretty big mistakes, so to be fourth is something I'm really proud of. I'm also really proud of my team-mate Lauren." Vonn added, looking forward to the next race: "My equipment is getting better every day, my confidence is there. Now, I just have to get that last 10-15 percent that I know I can get to."
05
St. Anton: 6th place in the downhill and impressing the ski world
The previous day, Vonn placed sixth in the downhill at St Anton, her first World Cup downhill in nearly six years. She finished behind Italy's Federica Brignone, Swiss newcomer Malorie Blanc, and Czech star Ester Ledecká.
"I know I could be faster, but for my first downhill race in six years, it was a pretty good start," Vonn remarked. "I know I feel good sometimes in training, but I've been really slow sometimes and really fast in others. It was fun. I love being back in the start. I feel a little bit more confident and comfortable in downhill than I do in Super-G and I know this hill really well."
06
St Moritz: The return to the World Cup
In December, Vonn finished 14th in the Super-G in St Moritz, Switzerland, in her first FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup race in nearly six years. Crossing the finish line in 1m 16.36s, she was just 1.18s behind the winner, Cornelia Hütter of Austria. "It was fun. I love being back in the start. I feel a little bit more confident and comfortable in downhill than I do in Super-G," Vonn noted.
07
Beaver Creek – a step forward
Vonn got her comeback underway at Beaver Creek
© Gabriele Facciotti/Red Bull Content Pool
During her training runs in Beaver Creek, Vonn showed consistent improvements, demonstrating increased confidence and speed. Her training performances drew attention and praise from both fans and experts alike.
08
November 2024: rumours to reality
When Vonn hinted at a return on social media in November with the post, "Well, it’s off to Colorado… I hope the U.S. Ski Team uniform still fits," reactions were mixed. Some questioned whether she could compete again at the highest level aged 40, especially after her knee surgery. However, her results are proving her commitment and capability.
09
Summer 2024: hard work and preparation
Throughout the summer, Vonn was seen training hard, dedicating herself to fitness and on-snow preparation. Her efforts included working with top trainers to rebuild strength and confidence on the slopes.
10
April 2024: knee surgery – a pivotal moment
In April 2024, Vonn underwent partial knee replacement surgery, a crucial step in her comeback journey. The procedure allowed her to ski without chronic pain for the first time in years, setting the stage for her remarkable return to competitive skiing.