With the 2026 Winter Olympics kicking off in February in Italy, fans are already anticipating what’s in store and who will be representing the United States. Over the years, the impressive athletes at the forefront of these games—most of whom have dedicated their entire lives to their sport—have filled viewers at home with pride and passion as they watched them give it their all. Now, with folks already looking ahead at who might be standing up on those podiums in a few short months, a few athletes already have people talking—one of those being 2026 Olympic hopeful Lindsey Vonn. The 41-year-old alpine ski racer has won three Olympic medals over the course of her career: one gold and two bronze. After a temporary retirement in 2019, Lindsey Vonn is in her comeback era, and should she qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics and place, the athlete would make history as alpine skiing’s oldest Olympic medalist. Here, read all about Lindsey Vonn, her inspiring comeback and what’s ahead for her.
All about Lindsey Vonn
Lindsey Vonn’s skiing career began when she was a child, and years of training and endless dedication have allowed her to achieve the level of success she has. According to the US Ski and Snowboard website, she is “the only American woman to capture downhill gold at the Olympics, has 82 World Cup victories, 138 World Cup podiums, seven World Championship medals, and 20 World Cup titles (including four Overall World Cup Crystal Globes).”
Lindsey Vonn, 2018
Tom Pennington/Getty Images
In 2019, however, Vonn stepped away from the sport she grew up with—the physical impact taking an intense toll on her body. “A large portion of cartilage that had delaminated from my bone was removed. My crash in Lake Louise last year was much more painful than I let on, but I continued to race because I wanted to win a medal in the Olympics for my late grandfather,” Vonn wrote on Instagram back in 2019 when she announced her retirement. “Again, I rehabbed my way back this summer and I felt better than I had in a long time. Then I crashed in Copper this November and injured my left knee, tearing my LCL plus sustaining 3 fractures. Despite extensive therapy, training and a knee brace, I am not able to make the turns necessary to compete the way I know I can. My body is broken beyond repair and it isn’t letting me have the final season I dreamed of. My body is screaming at me to STOP and it’s time for me to listen.”
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Though Lindsey thought her career was over, surgery, time and healing away from the sport led her to where she is today: pursuing a spot in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Lindsey Vonn makes her comeback
In the spring of 2024, Vonn underwent a partial knee replacement that gave her a piece of her old life back. Soon enough, the physical tasks that caused her anguish on the daily were as easy as they had once been. Before long, she was back in the game, and now, she’s in pursuit of another Olympic medal. Back in March, she placed second at the World Cup Finals in Sun Valley, Idaho, and her journey toward the Olympics will continue in December.
Lindsey Vonn, 2025
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
“I have nothing to prove. I said that from the beginning of this comeback, or adventure, or whatever you want to call it. I’ve done everything—more than everything—I ever expected or hoped for in my career,” she told Outside. “I could not be more proud of what I achieved, and considering all my injuries, it was a miracle I even did what I did. This is not about proving anything to anyone.”
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Whether Lindsey stands on that podium in 2026 or not, she’s already won something far more valuable: proof that it’s never too late for a comeback. Her journey reminds us that when one chapter closes, another can begin—if we have the courage to listen to our bodies, trust the healing process and refuse to let fear write our final chapter.
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