Lindsey Vonn’s comeback wasn’t some picture-perfect return with fireworks and gold medals. Instead, it was a raw and relentless battle. After retiring in 2019 due to a series of injuries, many thought they had seen the last of the legendary skier. But in late 2024, with a partial knee replacement offering a glimmer of hope, Vonn decided to return to the sport she loved. However, the reality of that comeback wasn’t as easy as slipping into familiar skis.
Her first race back in December 2024 at Copper Mountain saw her finish in 24th place—a humbling start to what would prove to be a long and arduous journey. With each race, the challenges only piled on as Vonn faced the harsh reality of returning to the sport after years of recovery. But despite the tough start, she refused to back down, knowing that every setback was part of the process. Recently, CNN Sports shared a video on X, where Lindsey Vonn opened up about her experience in an interview.
When asked about the overall feeling during her comeback season, she didn’t mince words. “Yeah, I feel relieved. It was a lot of relief,” Lindsey Vonn shared. “You know, I just… I can’t even explain how hard it was this season. I didn’t have any prep. I wasn’t nearly as strong as I was before. I’m like 20 pounds less than I used to be.” Vonn’s journey wasn’t just a battle with the clock—it was a battle with herself and the many changes that came with returning to the slopes after her retirement.
“Never in a million years would I have ever expected to be back here.”@lindseyvonn tells @AmandaDCNN in an exclusive interview that she proved to herself and her doubters that “I deserve to be here” after skiing return.
https://t.co/jfgOdGCtAF pic.twitter.com/hck5MlLAGV
— CNN Sports (@cnnsport) May 6, 2025
She battled obstacles beyond physical ones, which included mental complications. “I had new equipment, a new serviceman, new coaches, new trainers,” she said. “I’ve never had so many different variables in one season. Every weekend, it was something new, some new challenge being thrown at me. Sometimes, I felt like I was beaten down, and it was hard to find the motivation.”
Through it all, Vonn stayed focused because of her dedication to skiing. Her love for ski racing became her motivation to continue pursuing her goal, even though she recognized her path would have many obstacles. After a long string of determination and effort, Lindsey Vonn triumphantly returned to her top position. She achieved a runner-up position at the 2025 World Cup Finals, which took place in Sun Valley, Idaho.
It was her first World Cup podium award since 2018. “When I finally did it, I was just relieved because all the hard work that I had put in and my passion for what I do… something was quantified on that day,” she reflected. “I went from 0 to 1000 at my age, after what I’ve been through. That means everything to me.” The journey to the top brought continual criticism, even though she managed to reach the highest position.
Lindsey Vonn overcame harsh criticism during her comeback
The alpine skiing community reacted strongly against Lindsey Vonn’s planned competitive return at 40 years old, which she announced for December 2024. Michaela Dorfmeister, a two-time Austrian Olympic champion, proposed that Vonn should see a psychologist, which sparked questions about her mental health condition.
According to four-time overall World Cup champion Pirmin Zurbriggen and Austrian downhill legend Franz Klammer, Lindsey Vonn faced deadly risks to her artificial knee joint, which threatened to stop her from ever participating in sports again. In response to the criticism, Vonn expressed her frustration, acknowledging that concerns about her knee’s safety were valid but criticizing the personal attacks on her mental health as disrespectful.
She pointed out the double standard, highlighting how male athletes like Marcel Hirscher faced little to no scrutiny upon their comebacks. In the same interview with CNN, Vonn opened up about her motivations, revealing that while her initial comeback wasn’t aimed at proving anything to others, the constant negative comments from peers took an emotional toll.
“I wasn’t doing it to prove anything to anybody, but as the season went on and I had so many negative voices from my peers, that really hurt me,” she shared. The resolve of Lindsey Vonn grew stronger as her season progressed towards its end. She wanted to demonstrate to every 40-year-old woman out there while also proving it to herself. “We are not defined by our age; we are defined by our ability and our work ethic,” she said.
Vonn shared her comeback story, emphasizing both her and her dedication to getting back to where she started. “I worked as hard as I could to be back to where I got to, and that’s why I felt like I needed to do it to prove to women that we could.” She delivered empowering messages that fought against social barriers that hinder women in sports.
The post Haunted by Constant Criticism, Lindsey Vonn Opens Up on the Painful Struggles Behind Reversing Retirement at 40 appeared first on EssentiallySports.