Inside Lindsey Vonn’s Return to the Olympics After Retirement, Injury

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Lindsey Vonn has never been a quitter.

This skier has had an incredibly successful career, with 83 World Cup wins and over 130 podium finishes. She’s also earned three Olympic medals and eight World Championship medals. Even after a recent ACL injury, she plans to compete at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.

Despite being one of the most decorated skiers ever – second only to Marcel Hirscher and fellow American Mikaela Shiffrin in total World Cup wins – Lindsey Vonn faced a challenging path to return to competitive skiing.

She retired from skiing seven years ago, making the 2019 World Championships her final competition. Years of strain had taken their toll on her knees, and they could no longer withstand the demands of the sport.

She shared on Instagram that while constantly striving for more in ski racing has brought her great achievements, it’s also led to some serious falls. Determined to not let injuries define her career, she kept quiet about having surgery last spring.

Even with a lot of therapy, training, and wearing a knee brace, I still can’t make the turns I need to compete at my best. My body is too damaged to heal, and it’s preventing me from having the final season I always wanted. It’s clear my body is telling me to stop, and I need to respect that.

After finishing third in the downhill race at the World Championships, it seemed like Lindsey had retired from racing.

However, that didn’t end up happening. In November 2024, Lindsey announced she was returning to competition at age 40, just seven months after undergoing right knee replacement surgery.

She admitted she couldn’t promise any specific results, but assured everyone she’d always give it her all from the very beginning. Regardless of how the competition turns out, she feels she’s already achieved something special. She’s thankful for the season so far and excited to continue competing, saying, “See you in Cortina!”

Fueled by her recent victories and the enthusiastic support of a country eager to see a champion return to form, the skier appeared ready to achieve another historic performance at the Games.

That is, until it almost all came crashing down—literally. 

Lindsey suffered a torn ACL in her left knee after a crash during the World Cup in Switzerland on January 30th, and was flown by helicopter to a hospital for treatment.

While an injury might have stopped most athletes, the Minnesota native simply saw it as a minor setback.

She told The New York Times that she was hoping to compete again. “I want to race, and I’m driven to push my limits,” she explained. “I love the speed, and I’m curious to see how far I can go.”

The response time remained impressively quick. Just three months after that, in February 2025, Lindsey competed at the World Championships again, finishing 15th in the downhill event.

After winning multiple races and earning two bronze medals in the Super G, Lindsey defied expectations once more and made the Olympic team this November.

She announced on Instagram that she’s proud to compete for her country at her fifth and final Olympic Games. She explained that when she decided to return to ski racing, she was particularly focused on competing in Cortina, a place she feels a strong connection to.

She admitted she couldn’t promise any specific results, but assured everyone she would always give it her all from the very beginning. Regardless of how the competition turns out, she already feels like a winner. She’s thankful for the season so far and excited to continue competing, saying, “See you in Cortina!”

Fueled by her recent victories and the enthusiastic support of a country eager to see a champion return to form, the skier appeared ready to achieve greatness at the Games once more.

That is, until it almost all came crashing down—literally. 

Lindsey was seriously injured in a crash during the World Cup in Switzerland on January 30th and had to be flown by helicopter to a hospital. Tests revealed she had torn the ACL in her left knee.

While many athletes would have been stopped by this, the athlete from Minnesota just found it a minor setback.

Lindsey announced on Instagram on February 3rd that she’s ready to compete in the Olympic Downhill on Sunday. She’s been working closely with doctors, undergoing therapy and physical testing, and even managed to ski today! She still needs to complete one practice run, which is standard for the race, but feels confident her body is prepared.

I knew my Olympic prospects before the crash, and while things have changed, I still have a shot. As long as there’s even a possibility, I won’t give up hope. This isn’t the end for me!

The competition isn’t finished, and when Lindsey begins her practice run on February 7th, she’ll have the support of a whole country as she prepares for the official competition on the 8th.

For a closer look at some of the many athletes joining Lindsey on Team USA, read on.

Mikaela Shiffrin, a three-time Olympic medalist, is determined to perform better at her fourth Olympics. She’s hoping to bounce back from a disappointing showing at the 2022 Beijing Games and a frightening crash in November 2024, which caused an abdominal injury that needed surgery.

In a recent interview with TIME, Mikaela Shiffrin explained she’s acutely aware of the unpredictable nature of competition. She understands that even with perfect preparation, success isn’t guaranteed. However, she feels a strong connection with her team and believes they’re well-prepared to face any challenges together, and that’s all she can ask for.

Mikaela Shiffrin has been supported for years by Norwegian skier Aleksander Aamodt Kilde, and the two are now engaged to be married.

He keeps telling me to stay positive and that everything will be alright, she shared with Olympics.com. Especially last season, I often wondered if pushing myself to come back was too much, too soon, or even possible. But he reassured me, saying I know my own limits and that I’m doing all I can, and that it’s okay if it doesn’t work out.

After struggling with repeated knee injuries, Lindsey Vonn retired from competitive skiing in 2019. She had competed in five Winter Olympics, earning a gold medal in downhill and a bronze in Super-G in 2010, and another bronze in downhill in 2018.

After a successful partial knee replacement in 2024 finally relieved the pain she’d lived with since her first knee surgery in 2013, she rediscovered her desire for speed.

While I appreciate board calls and investing, they don’t compare to the thrill of downhill skiing,” the 41-year-old told NBC News. “I’ve built a good life outside of the sport, and I know nothing will ever quite match skiing. I’m okay with that, but I’m going to savor this last burst of excitement, because I know I can’t get it back.

Vonn’s crash during a World Cup race in Switzerland on January 30th was serious enough to require a helicopter rescue, and it almost ended her attempt to return to competitive skiing.

Despite tearing her left knee ligament, the experienced athlete announced she was healthy enough to race in the women’s downhill competition on February 8th in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Cortina is hosting the skiing, snowboarding, and sliding events for the games, while Milan will host the skating and curling competitions.

Oh my god, you guys, she said it with so much strength! At the press conference on February 3rd, she basically declared she wasn’t giving up, not for a second! She even said, and I quote, ‘I’m not crying!’ Like, she was holding it together, head held high, totally determined to give it her all. It was EVERYTHING. I’m seriously obsessed with how powerful she is!

Jessie Diggins, the most accomplished American cross-country skier ever, is competing in her last Olympic Games.

And the Afton, Minn., native is headed to Italy with a purpose.

In a recent Instagram post on January 31st, the 34-year-old shared that they have the freedom to choose who they compete for and live according to their beliefs. They dedicated their efforts to those who show care and compassion to others, stating that these individuals inspire them and make them proud to represent their country. They hope to bring happiness to these supporters in the coming weeks.

After she retires, she shared with NPR’s All Things Considered that she’s looking forward to spending time gardening and, most importantly, being home with her husband.

At just 17, Stolz first competed in the Olympics in Beijing. Though he didn’t medal then, he’s now a strong contender to win gold in several speed skating events at the Milan Cortina Games, including the 500, 1,000, and 1,500 meters, as well as the mass start race – a challenging 16-lap, 6,400-meter event.

The 21-year-old athlete believes he has a strong chance of winning gold if he performs at his best. Speaking to the Associated Press in January, he said he feels prepared to handle the pressure, explaining that he’s experienced many high-stakes races before and isn’t overly worried about expectations. He added that as long as things go smoothly, he should be able to perform well.

Four years after making history at the Beijing Winter Olympics – becoming the first Black American woman to medal in speed skating and the first Black woman to win an individual gold medal – 500-meter champion Erin Jackson is returning to the 2026 Games as a flag bearer. She will share the honor with bobsledder Frank Del Duca at the Opening Ceremony on February 6th.

The 33-year-old from Ocala, Florida, said it’s a huge honor to represent the United States internationally. She explained that this moment isn’t just about her, but also about her family, team, hometown, and all Americans who support athletics.

Although she’s not retiring immediately, Jackson plans to launch an organization dedicated to supporting young Black athletes who want to compete in speed skating.

It’s incredibly important to see people like yourself succeed, and that hasn’t always been the case in winter sports, especially speed skating. I’m proud to be a role model and inspire others to give these sports a try, and I’m committed to helping make that happen.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always amazed by athletes who push through adversity, and Kim is a perfect example! She injured her shoulder – a small tear in her labrum – back in January while training in Switzerland. But that wasn’t going to keep her from chasing her Olympic dreams! She’s headed to her fourth Olympics with a real shot at winning her third gold medal in the women’s halfpipe – talk about dedication and resilience!

The 25-year-old athlete from Torrance, California, expressed disappointment in a video posted on January 13th that she won’t be able to snowboard again until just before the Olympics, which will make preparation challenging. She acknowledged she hasn’t had as much practice as she’d hoped, but remains optimistic.

She anticipates a relaxed period leading up to the 2026 Games. In a January 22nd interview with NBC Olympics, she explained she was currently at home and planned to travel to Europe early the following week for some training before heading to Milan for the event.

And once she was there, she’d be fired up and ready to go—just like everyone else.

It’s hard to put into words, but being out there really brings out the best in everyone,” said Kim, who has been snowboarding since she was a child. “It’s like we all become the best versions of ourselves.”

Gerard first won an Olympic gold medal in slopestyle at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games when he was 17 years old. Now a two-time X Games champion, he’s aiming to carry that success into his third Olympic appearance.

The 25-year-old, originally from Ohio and now living in Colorado, told People magazine in January that she still feels young and in great shape. She also expressed how rewarding it is to be a veteran on Team USA, having been involved since age 13, and to now be able to mentor the younger athletes.

When it comes to competing at the Olympics, Gerard focuses on treating it like any other competition. He acknowledges it’s a much larger event with more attention, but ultimately, the snowboarding itself doesn’t change. He tries to stay focused on his own performance, blocking out the extra pressure and relying on the same approach he’s always used.

The 31-year-old snowboarder is competing in his third Olympic Games, hoping to add a gold medal to his collection after winning silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022.

Skier Ferreira believes this is her year to win a gold medal. Speaking to the Daily Express, she explained that she’s entering the competition healthy for the first time, unlike her previous two attempts where she was injured – she broke her collarbone weeks before one games and sprained her ankle three weeks before another. Ferreira, originally from Aspen, Colorado, learned to ski at a local club with used equipment. She feels more prepared now, saying she’s older, more focused, and completely dedicated to achieving her goal.

Okay, so not only is he blessed with an amazing sister, Lourdes, but his parents are total athletes! His dad, Marcelo, used to be a pro soccer player from Argentina – can you even imagine?! And his mom, Colleen, was a seriously competitive runner. Honestly, it’s a family of champions! But the best part? He also has the sweetest rescue dog, Brandy, always by his side. It’s just… perfect.

What I love most about my dog, Brandy, is her unconditional love. As Nulo’s ambassador, I shared that she doesn’t care about accomplishments; she’s just happy to see me when I come home. She’s there for me through everything, good and bad, and I truly rely on her.

Hall is competing in his third Olympics, hoping to repeat his gold medal win in slopestyle. He first competed in the 2018 Games, where he finished 16th.

Beyond potentially winning another slopestyle gold—something he cherishes, literally keeping his first medal in his sock drawer—the laid-back 27-year-old is also hoping to do better than his eighth-place finish in Big Air at the 2022 competition. He says repeating his gold medal win would be incredible.

In an interview with POWDER magazine in October 2025, Hall expressed his enthusiasm for the return of the Olympics to Europe, noting the potential for excellent skiing conditions and a stunning mountain backdrop – something the last two Olympics lacked. He also shared a personal connection to the event, explaining that his mother is from Bologna, Italy, and many of his family members who still live there will be attending the games, which he anticipates will be a wonderful experience.

The 29-year-old freestyle skier is competing in her third Olympic Games and hopes to build on the silver medal she won in Beijing.

She always knows who to ask for help, whether it’s about getting better at her sport or dealing with the stress of competing on the world stage.

Patti Sherman-Kauf is a decorated athlete: she won two championships on the World Pro Moguls Tour, even competing while pregnant with her daughter, and her husband, Scott Kauf, won five titles. After retiring from moguls, Patti excelled in skicross, earning three bronze medals at the X Games.

Jaelin wasn’t like most babies; she preferred bouncing instead of being rocked, according to her mother, Patti, in an interview with NBC Olympics.

Jaelin admitted that she didn’t immediately fall in love with mogul skiing. In a November 2025 interview with Teton Gravity Research, she said she’d always prefer a day with fresh powder. However, watching her parents build careers as professional skiers showed her it was a viable path for herself – something many people don’t get to see or receive support for. She always felt confident she could pursue it.

Team Jaelin also includes her boyfriend, Bradley Wilson, a two-time Olympic skier who is now retired, and his brother Bryon Wilson, a bronze medalist who coaches Kauf.

Humphries’ journey has had more twists than a bobsled run.

Originally from Calgary, this 40-year-old athlete represented Team Canada in two-woman bobsled and achieved Olympic success, winning gold medals in 2010 and 2014, and a bronze medal in 2018.

In 2019, she surprised everyone in the sports world by announcing her departure from the Canadian national team after 16 years. She explained that she was concerned for her safety due to a negative and harmful atmosphere within the team leading up to the 2018 Olympics.

In 2019, Humphries began competing for the U.S. team while also maintaining her Canadian citizenship, stating she didn’t intend to choose between the two countries.

She clarified that her affection for Canada hasn’t diminished, but she’s also capable of loving someone and something new. After living in the U.S. for four years, she fell in love with and married an American. Now, life has presented them with new opportunities, and they’re facing the kinds of decisions people often have to make.

In 2021, Elana Humphries became a U.S. citizen, and the following year, she won a gold medal in the first-ever Olympic monobob competition at the 2022 Beijing Games.

I’m so thrilled to be cheering on an athlete competing in her fifth Olympics! What makes it even more special is that this will be her first Games as a mom – she and her husband, Travis Armbruster, welcomed their son, Aulden, in June 2024. It’s incredibly inspiring to see her balance motherhood and her athletic career.

For a long time, people have said that having a baby means the end of an athlete’s career – that your body will change too much, both physically and mentally, to return to top performance. As Humphries told The Athletic, the common belief was that motherhood and competitive sports were incompatible. But she and others are now demonstrating that it is possible to be both a mother and a successful athlete, proving that you don’t have to choose between the two.

For five-time Olympian, bobsledding has become a personal escape since becoming a mother. She and her husband, Nic Taylor, welcomed their son, Nico, in 2020, followed by another son, Noah, in 2022. Nico has Down syndrome, and both boys are deaf – a condition caused by a gene both parents carry, which they discovered after Nico’s birth.

Even though her home life was incredibly busy, Meyers Taylor really wanted her children to see what she did at work.

“The challenges they’ll face are beyond what I can imagine,” the 41-year-old explained to The Athletic. “I hope they learn that even when things get hard, you can still chase your goals. I want them to see me succeed, with medals, but also to witness my struggles, my comebacks, and my determination.”

As a winter sports enthusiast, I’ve been following Kaillie Meyers Taylor’s incredible career for years! She’s already an Olympic powerhouse with five medals across four Games – four in the two-woman bobsled and a silver in the monobob just recently at the 2022 Olympics. But, believe it or not, she’s still chasing that elusive first gold medal. It’s amazing to witness her dedication and drive!

Skeleton racing is undeniably cool – it involves speeding headfirst down an icy, winding track on a small sled, reaching speeds of up to 90 mph.

Ro, who became the first American to win a medal in skeleton at the IBSF World Championships in 12 years (in 2025), initially didn’t believe she’d actually won.

Oh my god, I remember her describing it and it’s just… everything. She said the coach just sent her down the track, and suddenly it was all a blur. Like, nothing was registering, it was all happening so fast! And then she hit the bottom and was just DONE. She literally told someone she was never, ever doing that again! It’s amazing, honestly. She tried it after they told her she was too small for bobsled, can you believe it? It was 2016, and she just went for it, even though it terrified her!

But after listening to enough people rave about how cool it was, she tried it again.

Ten years after starting her journey, the athlete from Virginia is now competing in her first Olympics. She’ll be participating in both individual events and the new mixed team event, which is being introduced at the 2026 Games.

Outside of training and competition, Ro works as a tour guide at the Lake Placid Olympic Center. She’s one of many athletes who takes on a second job to make ends meet. Ro is the second oldest of eleven children, and has a twin sister who is fourteen minutes younger than her.

She described being fully immersed in her work and training environment, saying it’s a constant part of her life. She also explained that tourists enjoy tours led by athletes who offer a personal look inside the facility. While she loves sharing her experiences, she emphasized that these tours won’t generate enough income to fully fund her athletic pursuits.

Illya Malinin comes from a family of figure skating stars – both his parents were Uzbekistani champions. He started skating at age six, but initially preferred playing soccer with friends in his Virginia neighborhood over practicing in the chilly rink.

At age 17, he achieved a historic feat at the 2022 CS U.S. International Classic by becoming the first—and so far only—skater to successfully land a quadruple axel with a full rotation in international competition.

Ilia Malinin, known as the “Quad God,” has successfully landed four quadruple jumps in a single program several times. He’s currently the strongest U.S. male contender to win gold in the individual event at the 2026 Olympics, especially now that Nathan Chen, previously called the “Quad King,” has decided not to compete in the Milan Cortina Games.

Four years after not making Team USA, the 20-year-old is now concentrating on preparing himself to perform well.

I don’t focus on winning medals when I compete,” Ilia Malinin explained on the USA Today podcast, Milan Magic. “I concentrate on giving a strong performance and doing my job as a skater. I prepare thoroughly so I can skate to the best of my ability, and if I do that, the medals usually follow.”

After competing in the Beijing Olympics and World Championships – where she earned a bronze medal – Liu retired from competitive skating in 2022.

Liu explained to NBC News that she began her training at age five and continued intensely until she was sixteen. Having been homeschooled her entire life, she ultimately decided to retire at seventeen. She shared that, despite being a very social person who needs connection with others, she spent many years training in isolation, without family or friends nearby.

She explained that she had very little control over her own training and appearance, often being put in outfits she disliked. She felt like a puppet, forced to participate in the Olympics, but believed she had a responsibility to fulfill a promise to her younger self.

She started studying at UCLA in the fall of 2023 and was enjoying a typical college experience. However, a ski trip in January reignited her competitive spirit, and by March 2024, she was competing again. The 20-year-old from Clovis, California, then went on to win a gold medal at the World Championships in 2025. Now, she’s aiming to help the U.S. women’s team break their 20-year streak without an individual medal—and ideally win more gold—at the 2026 Games.

When she takes the ice now, “it’s fully for myself,” Liu explained. “Yeah, it’s pretty cool.”

This Olympic Games marks a special moment for the pair, as it’s their fourth time competing together and their first since tying the knot in June 2024.

Chock explained to TopMob News in December that getting married strengthened their partnership both personally and professionally. They already had a strong connection through skating, but marriage has allowed them to fully support each other as true partners, in everything they do, both on and off the ice.

Though they helped the U.S. figure skating team win gold in Beijing in 2022, the three-time world champion pair haven’t yet earned an Olympic medal for themselves.

We’ve been working really hard and dedicating a lot of time and effort,” Bates shared with TopMob, “but we truly appreciate every day and the chance we’ve been given.

As a lifestyle observer, I’ve been following Madison and Evan’s journey, and while they haven’t officially announced their retirement, you can definitely feel they’re approaching the end of their competitive skating career. They’re aware this Olympic experience could very well be one of their last, and they’re embracing every moment.

It’s been tough not to get carried away with how much this all means, especially looking back on our 15 years skating together. We just wanted to stay focused and skate our best at the 2026 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships – and thankfully, we were able to win gold! But more than that, we really wanted to soak in every second, because these moments don’t last forever and this might be our last time competing. It felt so good to finally show everyone what we’ve been working towards all these years.

The seasoned U.S. women’s hockey player, a gold medalist in 2018, has announced that the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics will be her last. This will be her fifth Olympic Games, making her the American hockey player—male or female—with the most Olympic appearances.

Although she’d love to win another gold medal, Knight emphasized to Today.com that a large portion of the team – possibly more than half – are Olympic first-timers. She said a key focus is making sure everyone feels comfortable and can perform at their best. With so many talented players, she believes getting them to reach their full potential will be crucial for the team’s success and lead to an exceptional performance.

A University of Wisconsin graduate, this athlete currently plays for the Seattle Torrent as a star forward, based in Washington. However, she and her partner, Brittany Bowe – a veteran speed skater and the oldest member of the U.S. team – recently purchased a home in Salt Lake City. Bowe will be competing in her fourth and final Olympic Games shortly before turning 38 on February 24th.

As elite athletes, you develop a strong sense of what someone else needs – whether it’s encouragement or time to themselves,” Knight explained to NBC Olympics in June 2025. “Having both competed at a high level for so long also helps us understand each other.”

This mixed doubles curling team, formed after the 2022 Beijing Olympics, is heading to their first Games together. They previously placed fifth at the 2025 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship and won a world championship in 2023. The partners believe their success is due to both their skills and how well their personalities mesh.

Ahead of the Milan Cortina Games, skater Dropkin, 30, explained how well she and her partner, Cory, work together. “We’re able to stay relaxed and focused on the present,” she said. “We also just have great chemistry. Someone recently described us as ‘the calm and the fire’ – Cory is calm and steady on the ice, while I bring a lot of energy and passion. It’s a really good combination.”

He and his wife, Thiesse, who married Sam Thiesse in June 2022, live in Duluth, Minnesota. They both work regular jobs to support their passion for curling.

Dropkin works in real estate, and Thiesse is a lab technician who tests wastewater for mercury. Thiesse shared with Duluth’s ABC 10 that she’s thankful to have a stable job while pursuing her passion for curling, something she and her teammates have dreamed of since childhood.

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2026-02-06 15:21