Lindsey Vonn completes first Alpine skiing race in nearly 6 years

Lindsey Vonn, one of the most decorated alpine skiers in history, made her competitive return to the slopes on Saturday, nearly six years after retiring. The 40-year-old Olympic gold medalist participated in a FIS-level downhill race at Copper Mountain, Colorado, finishing 24th out of 43 competitors.

Vonn, who recently rejoined the U.S. Ski Team, used the event as a training opportunity to regain her competitive edge. Starting as the 39th racer, she clocked in just 1.44 seconds behind Austria’s Mirjam Puchner, who claimed victory.

“Happy to be able to take another step this weekend!” Vonn shared on social media before the race. “Technically tomorrow will be my first race, but I’m using it as a training opportunity to keep on building. 100% will come in time, but not tomorrow. It’s been six years since I last raced, so I still have a lot of equipment to test, finding my groove and really getting into racing form. I am having a lot of fun and want to keep on doing so!”

While this weekend’s competition is a step below the elite World Cup circuit, it featured several top-tier skiers preparing for next week’s World Cup event in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

Vonn’s immediate schedule remains unannounced. However, she must complete lower-level events to regain eligibility for World Cup competition. Before rejoining the U.S. team, she trained independently in New Zealand and Austria, steadily rebuilding her skills after undergoing a partial knee replacement surgery in April.

Vonn retired in 2019 after an illustrious 18-year career, during which she won the 2010 Olympic downhill gold medal, four World Cup overall titles, and 82 individual World Cup races. The decision to retire came after years of injuries took a toll on her body. Her return at age 40 marks a remarkable chapter in her legendary career, showcasing her resilience and passion for the sport.

This weekend’s races are just the beginning of Vonn’s journey back to competitive form, and her fans are eager to see what she can achieve in this new chapter.