For years, critics said Lindsey Vonn was taking things too far. Some claimed she needed psychological help, others insisted she had lost perspective on life beyond skiing. A few even questioned whether her comeback was dangerous and unnecessary.
Now, those voices are noticeably quieter.
Vonn’s return to downhill racing — powered by a titanium knee and unshakable determination — has been nothing short of remarkable. At 41, she dominated the opening speed weekend of the Olympic season, winning the first downhill by a massive margin and collecting more World Cup points than any other skier over three days.
“I have to thank the people who doubted me,” Vonn said. “They give me motivation. Every negative comment just makes me stronger.”
Last year, as Vonn prepared to return after nearly six years away from competition, some of the sport’s biggest names openly questioned her decision. Two-time Olympic champion Michaela Dorfmeister suggested she should “see a psychologist,” while Austrian legend Franz Klammer said she had “gone completely mad.” Pirmin Zurbriggen added that Vonn had failed to understand her life beyond skiing.
Those concerns weren’t entirely unfounded.
Downhill skiing is one of the most dangerous sports in the world, with athletes racing down icy slopes at speeds nearing 130 km/h, protected by little more than helmets, padding and air-bag suits.
Yet in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Vonn looked calmer, steadier and more controlled than competitors half her age. Her near-one-second victory margin on Friday was enormous by skiing standards, where races are often decided by hundredths of a second.
After crossing the finish line, Vonn even mimicked NBA star Stephen Curry’s “night, night” gesture — a playful signal that she had put the rest of the field to sleep. The win made her the oldest World Cup race winner in history, men or women.
The moment caught the attention of another ageless superstar. Los Angeles Lakers icon LeBron James, himself 40, commented on Instagram: “40+ is the new 20. Well, until you wake up the next day!”
Italian downhill star Sofia Goggia summed it up bluntly, saying Vonn “took us all to school.” The next day, Goggia doubled down by posing beside Vonn with a pacifier in her mouth, joking that the rest of the field had been left humbled.
Vonn backed up her win with a second-place finish in Saturday’s downhill — despite making a major mistake — and followed it with fourth place in Sunday’s super-G. By weekend’s end, she had amassed 230 World Cup points, comfortably more than any of her rivals.
Her performance has now forced a rethink of her future. Instead of retiring immediately after the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February, Vonn says she may continue racing through the end of the World Cup season in March.
“I think I need to adjust my plans,” she admitted.
Head coach Chris Knight agrees. With her equipment dialed in, improved conditioning, and an additional 12 pounds of muscle since last season, Knight believes Vonn can compete at this level consistently — provided her workload and recovery are carefully managed.
Recovery, he says, may now be the most important factor.
Looking ahead to the Olympics, Vonn will compete in downhill and super-G at Cortina d’Ampezzo — a venue where she already holds a record 12 World Cup victories. She also plans to enter the new team combined event, pairing one downhill skier with a slalom specialist.
That opens the door to a potential dream pairing with Mikaela Shiffrin.
While Vonn wasn’t in form last year to earn that opportunity, her explosive start — combined with Shiffrin’s dominance in slalom — could create one of the most formidable duos in Olympic skiing.
Adding to Vonn’s confidence this season is the presence of former Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal on her coaching staff. His calm, steady presence at the start gate has helped balance Vonn’s famously intense mindset.
“He’s been there so many times,” Vonn said. “His calm energy gives me peace — and that makes a big difference.”
At 41, Lindsey Vonn isn’t just proving she belongs. She’s rewriting the limits of what’s possible.Do you like this personality?
