When Tom Brady continued playing in the NFL well into his 40s, no one questioned his decision to face 300-pound defensive linemen. Similarly, when Lewis Hamilton took the wheel of a Ferrari Formula 1 car for the first time at 40, nobody told him he was too old for the sport.
However, when Lindsey Vonn announced her return to ski racing at age 40, she faced much more skepticism. The high speeds of downhill skiing, often exceeding 80 mph (130 kph), her history of crashes and injuries, and the fact that no woman of her stature had returned to the sport at that age, led to doubts. Yet, Vonn explained her decision simply: after retiring early in 2019 due to multiple injuries and undergoing surgery to replace part of her right knee with titanium, she feels better than she has in years—more like she did in her 20s.
In a recent interview with The Associated Press ahead of the world championships, Lindsey Vonn shared the reason for her comeback: “The reason is that I love skiing,” she said. “During the last few years of my career, I was in constant pain and dealing with numerous injuries. But now, I haven’t felt this good in a really long time.”
Lindsey Vonn expressed confidence about her comeback, saying, “I’m really solid. My position is strong, and I actually think I’m skiing better now than I was when I retired.” She emphasized that her passion for the sport is the main reason for her return. “I love skiing, I love going fast, and I know I’m still capable of doing it. I’m competitive, and I’ve already proven that. So, why not continue?”
Before Vonn made her return in December after nearly six years away from the sport, two-time Olympic champion Michaela Dorfmeister raised concerns, suggesting Vonn might need to see a psychologist. Dorfmeister even questioned on Austrian TV, “Does she want to kill herself?”
Austrian downhill legend Franz Klammer criticized Lindsey Vonn’s comeback, stating, “She’s gone completely mad.” Four-time World Cup champion Pirmin Zurbriggen also weighed in, suggesting that Vonn hasn’t fully embraced her life beyond skiing in recent years.
Despite the criticism, Vonn proved she can still compete at a high level, finishing sixth and fourth in a downhill and super-G race in St. Anton, Austria, last month. Though she’s still regaining her speed and has had a few minor falls, she feels more prepared as she enters the World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria.
Vonn expressed that she doesn’t feel her age, saying, “I don’t feel like I’m 40. A year or a year and a half ago, I would have said, ‘Yeah, I feel really old.’ But with my knee feeling so much better, I now feel it’s possible. Anything is possible.”
Vonn draws inspiration from athletes like Tom Brady, Lewis Hamilton, and Serena Williams, who excelled in their respective sports even as they neared 40. “Tom, Lewis, Serena—they’ve all done it,” Vonn said. “The resources available to athletes today allow for better recovery. Even though you’re older, you’re recovering faster than I was when I was in my 20s.”
Vonn and Shiffrin are both back in time to lend star power to worlds
Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin are both making their comebacks just in time for the World Championships, bringing star power to one of the biggest events in skiing outside the Olympics.
Shiffrin made her return to the World Cup circuit on Thursday, finishing 10th in a slalom race in Courchevel, France. It marked her first race back after a two-month recovery from a crash that left her with a deep puncture wound on her side. “I’m catching up to the fastest in the world, so I have a lot of work to do,” Shiffrin said after the race.
Together, Vonn and Shiffrin hold the records for the most World Cup victories among female skiers, with Shiffrin at 99 wins and Vonn at 82.
There’s even a possibility that the two could team up in the new team combined event, where one skier competes in downhill and the other in slalom. The final result would be based on the combined times of both skiers. With their combined accomplishments, it would be hard to find a better duo for the event: Vonn holds the record for most World Cup downhill victories with 43, while Shiffrin leads the slalom record with 62—both records are unmatched by men or women.
Lindsey Vonn will be the center of attention during her individual events, competing in super-G on Thursday and downhill on Saturday.
Mikaela Shiffrin, on the other hand, plans to compete in two individual events: giant slalom on February 13 and slalom on February 15.
The women’s team combined event is set for February 11.
Shiffrin expressed excitement about the possibility of teaming up for the combined event, saying, “All of my teammates have been showing incredible speed this season, and I would be lucky and thrilled to pair with any of them if I’m in a position to race.”
The championships will begin with a team parallel event on Tuesday, though neither Vonn nor Shiffrin will participate in that race.