Lindsey Vonn has announced her return from retirement to rejoin the U.S. Ski Team, revealing her plans to compete again at the age of 40, six years after her last Olympic appearance.

A three-time Olympic medalist, Vonn secured a gold in downhill and a bronze in super-G at the 2010 Vancouver Games, along with a bronze in downhill at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. She is also a four-time overall World Cup champion and has earned eight medals at the World Championships.

Her record of 82 World Cup race victories stood as the benchmark for female skiers until it was surpassed in January 2023 by fellow American Mikaela Shiffrin, who is still competing and has achieved 97 wins, the highest in the history of Alpine skiing.

Prior to breaking Vonn’s record, Shiffrin remarked, “I don’t know if I could fill Lindsey’s shoes, the way that she has worn them.”

Vonn's last competitive event took place in February 2019, following a lengthy battle with various injuries throughout her career, including broken bones, torn ligaments, and concussions. In April, she underwent surgery for a partial knee replacement after stepping away from the World Cup circuit.

Recently, Vonn has been training, as confirmed by U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “Returning to skiing without pain has been an incredible journey,” she stated, expressing her desire to “continue to share my knowledge of the sport with these incredible women” on the American team.

Vonn is officially back with the team, although her specific race schedule has yet to be determined. The first downhill event of the current World Cup season, her specialty, is set to take place at Beaver Creek, Colorado, in December.

Sophie Goldschmidt, president and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, expressed enthusiasm about Vonn’s return, stating that her “dedication and passion for Alpine skiing is inspiring, and we’re excited to have her back on snow and see where she can go from here.”

The upcoming Winter Olympics are scheduled to take place in Italy in February 2026. It remains uncertain whether Vonn intends to compete, but the women’s Alpine skiing events will occur in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where she has set a record with 12 victories.

Vonn may take advantage of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation’s recently introduced wild-card rule, which permits former champions to receive favorable starting positions in races upon returning from retirement, without the need to accumulate ranking points in lower-tier competitions.

Marcel Hirscher, an eight-time overall World Cup champion, has already utilized this new rule, making his comeback after a five-year hiatus.