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In a world obsessed with youthful potential and fast ascents, Lindsey Vonn just reminded us all what perseverance truly looks like.
At 40 years old — with a titanium knee, a six-year absence from racing, and four months of gritty, scrutinized training behind her — Vonn stepped back onto the World Cup podium this past Sunday in Sun Valley, Idaho. Her silver medal in the super-G wasn’t just a victory. It was a statement. A love letter to ski racing. A silencing of doubters. And, perhaps most importantly, a personal triumph born of fire and will.
“It was [expletive] hard,” Vonn said after the race, tears streaming, joy colliding with exhaustion. “But I did it. I can still do it.”
“After everything I’ve been through, I fought my way back on to the podium!! I can’t even start to describe what this means to me… I have been overwhelmed with emotion and support from so many people. I want to say thank you to everyone who believed in me! Going to enjoy this moment and reflect. More soon!”
And do it she did — with the poise and power that made her a legend, flying down Sun Valley’s revamped Challenger course to finish second behind Swiss phenom Lara Gut-Behrami. In that moment, Vonn became the oldest woman in history to reach a World Cup podium, surpassing the previous record by six full years.
A Season Fueled by Doubt — and Defiance
After retiring in 2019 due to chronic knee injuries, few expected to see Vonn back in a start gate — let alone on a podium. But in April 2023, she underwent a partial knee replacement, and by November, announced her intent to return to racing.
Many scoffed. Critics questioned the decision, the timing, the reality of competing at 40 in a sport where risk is constant and fractions of a second matter. But for Vonn, the naysayers became fuel.
“Sometimes the negative voices, they drive me more than the positive ones,” she said. “It was just a nice exclamation point to put on the season.”
Her 138th career podium. Her 408th World Cup start. Her first podium since 2018. And every second earned.
“Fearless”
Before the race, her father, Alan Kildow, simply grabbed her arm and said, “Fearless.” That one word, passed between two people who’ve seen the journey from start to finish, seemed to unlock something deep. Vonn skied with confidence, control, and that familiar edge — vintage Lindsey.
“She skied it like she had to,” said Kildow. “Technically sound. Fast. Bold.”
Gut-Behrami ultimately edged Vonn by 1.29 seconds and claimed the season-long Crystal Globe in super-G. Italian star Federica Brignone took third. But all eyes were on Vonn, standing tall, ski poles raised, emotion pouring out.
“I gave every single last ounce of energy I had,” she said. “Maybe I couldn’t breathe because I was crying. But it was a great race.”
For the Love of the Sport
For ski fans around the world — and especially in mountain towns like Fernie, where skiing is more than sport, it’s a way of life — Vonn’s return feels personal. It’s a reminder that age isn’t the finish line. That comebacks are always possible. That love for the mountain never fades.
“I’ve never fallen out of love with ski racing,” Vonn said. “I just continue to prove that anything is possible. I’ve been knocked down so many times… but I always pick myself back up.”
She may rest now, recover, and return to equipment testing and commentary. But this silver medal run — born of steel in more ways than one — will go down as one of the greatest moments in a career already filled with them.
Because Lindsey Vonn didn’t just ski fast on Sunday.
She proved — once again — what a true champion looks like.
(Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
