Lindsey Vonn has not ruled out another return to alpine ski racing, saying there remains a small possibility that she will compete again. The 41-year-old American, who is the oldest member of the 2026–27 US alpine skiing team, has been named in the squad subject to her recovery. Speaking at Zeta Live 2026, hosted by Zeta Global, she described both the severity of her injuries and the enduring attraction of the sport.
Vonn fractured her leg in a crash during the women's downhill at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in February 2026 and had to be airlifted from the course. She also suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear earlier in the year. The crash led to eight operations and almost two months in a wheelchair. Calling it the most difficult injury of her life, she described intense pain and a prolonged period in which progress felt elusive. She had previously revealed that her left leg might have required amputation. Unlike earlier recoveries, this experience took about four months for her to feel she had moved beyond its hardest phase.
Her record includes 84 World Cup victories, four World Cup titles, three Olympic medals and eight World Championship medals. She was also the first American woman to win Olympic downhill gold. Although her father, Alan Kildow, said in February that her racing career should end, Vonn's attachment to skiing remains strong. Previous injuries, she explained, had strengthened her determination to work harder and return stronger; another comeback, however, remains only a possibility.
