Nearly six years after her retirement, American alpine skiing legend Lindsey Vonn returned to competition this weekend in Copper Mountain, Colo., with two races each in the downhill and Super-G.The 40-year-old Vonn finished 24th and 27th, respectively, out of the 40 skiers who finished the FIS Fall Festival downhill runs on Saturday, followed by finishes of 24th (out of 31) and 19th (out of 28) in the Super-G on Sunday.AdvertisementThe event is a level below the top-tier World Cup circuit but featured several top skiers who were training for next weekend’s World Cup event in the same venue.“Today was a solid start and I had a blast being in start with my teammates again!” Vonn posted on X after Saturday’s runs. “While I’m sure people will speculate and say I’m not in top form because of the results, I disagree. This was training for me. I’m still testing equipment and getting back in the groove. This is only the beginning.”Last month, Vonn announced she intended to make a comeback almost six years after her retirement following the World Championships in February 2019. A knee injury ended her career then, but she had the knee replaced earlier this year and found herself pain-free, sparking the idea of a return.She’s hoping to compete again in World Cup races and, if she can defy the odds and regain something like her old form, potentially the 2026 Olympics. The women’s alpine skiing competition will be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where Vonn has logged 12 World Cup victories in her career.“I’m trying not to get too far ahead of myself because I have quite a few hoops to jump through,” Vonn told the New York Times last month, adding that she “can’t say right now if it’s a possibility” to compete in Cortina.This weekend was her first step back. In an Instagram post Friday, she called the races a “training opportunity to keep on building” and said, “100% will come in time but not tomorrow.” Vonn’s time of 1:07.23 in the first downhill run was 1.44 seconds off the pace of the winner, Austria’s Mirjam Puchner, the silver medalist in the Super-G at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. In the second race, she finished in 1:07.52, 1.53 seconds behind winner Cornelia Huetter of Austria, the defending World Cup downhill champion.AdvertisementOn Sunday, her Super-G times of 1:14.09 and 1:13.95, respectively, were both over two seconds off the winning pace of fellow American Lauren Macuga. Macuga won with nearly identical times of 1:11.90 and 1:11.89.Vonn’s plans beyond Copper Mountain have not been announced. She hoped to use the lower-level FIS races to gain the necessary ranking points to enter World Cup events, which she indicated she achieved this weekend.“Now I have the FIS points to race World Cup, so that’s a successful day,” her Saturday X post said.When she retired, Vonn was the most successful American World Cup skier of all time, with 82 individual event wins. That was second to Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark for the most all time in alpine skiing. At the time, a 24-year-old American named Mikaela Shiffrin sat well behind her with 56 victories. But since, Shiffrin — who was injured last week in a World Cup event in Vermont — has reeled off 43 more World Cup event wins to reset the record and sit one shy of the 100 mark.Vonn was a member of four U.S. Olympic teams between 2002 and 2018, winning three medals, including gold in the downhill in Vancouver in 2010. But knee injuries recurred throughout her career and kept her out of the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.But with her knee free of pain and a new opportunity, Vonn is back to see where it all goes, possibly to a most unlikely Olympic bid.“It’s been 6 years since I last raced so I still have a lot of equipment to test, finding my groove and really getting into racing form,” she said in her Instagram post. “I am having a lot of fun and want to keep on doing so!”Related reading(Photo: John Locher / AP)

Lindsey Vonn, aged 40, makes a comeback in competitive skiing, targeting World Cup events.

Nearly six years post-retirement, American alpine skiing icon Lindsey Vonn made her competitive return this weekend in Copper Mountain, Colo., participating in two downhill and two Super-G races. The 40-year-old Vonn achieved finishes of 24th and 27th, respectively, out of 40 competitors in the FIS Fall Festival downhill events on Saturday, and followed that with […]

Nearly six years post-retirement, American alpine skiing icon Lindsey Vonn made her competitive return this weekend in Copper Mountain, Colo., participating in two downhill and two Super-G races.

The 40-year-old Vonn achieved finishes of 24th and 27th, respectively, out of 40 competitors in the FIS Fall Festival downhill events on Saturday, and followed that with placements of 24th (from 31) and 19th (from 28) in the Super-G on Sunday.

This competition is a notch below the premier World Cup circuit but included several elite skiers who were preparing for next weekend’s World Cup races in the same location.

“Today was a great start, and I had a wonderful time at the starting line with my teammates!” Vonn shared on X after the Saturday events. “While I know people may speculate that I’m not in peak condition based on the results, I beg to differ. This was training for me. I’m still trying out gear and finding my rhythm again. This is just the start.”

Last month, Vonn revealed her intention to stage a comeback nearly six years after hanging up her skis following the February 2019 World Championships. A knee injury marked the end of her career then, but after having her knee replaced earlier this year, she found herself pain-free, igniting thoughts of a return.

She aims to compete in World Cup events again and, if she beats the odds and regains something close to her former self, possibly the 2026 Olympics. The women’s alpine skiing competitions will take place in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where Vonn has achieved 12 World Cup victories throughout her career.

“I’m trying to remain grounded because I have quite a few challenges ahead,” Vonn told the New York Times last month, adding that she “can’t specify right now if competing in Cortina is a possibility.”

This weekend marked her initial step back. In an Instagram update on Friday, she called the races a “training chance to keep advancing” and stated, “100% will arrive in due time but not tomorrow.”

Vonn’s time of 1:07.23 in her first downhill race was 1.44 seconds behind the winner, Austria’s Mirjam Puchner, the silver medalist in the Super-G at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. In her second race, she clocked in at 1:07.52, finishing 1.53 seconds behind winner Cornelia Huetter of Austria, the reigning World Cup downhill champion.

On Sunday, her Super-G times of 1:14.09 and 1:13.95 were both over two seconds off the pace set by fellow American Lauren Macuga, who won with nearly identical times of 1:11.90 and 1:11.89.

Vonn’s intentions beyond Copper Mountain remain unspecified. She expressed hopes of utilizing the lower-tier FIS races to obtain essential ranking points for entry into World Cup competitions, which she claimed to have accomplished this weekend.

“Now I have the FIS points to compete in the World Cup, so that’s a successful day,” her Saturday post on X read.

Upon her retirement, Vonn was celebrated as the most accomplished American World Cup skier in history, boasting 82 individual event victories. That record trailed only Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark for the most ever in alpine skiing. At that time, a then-24-year-old American named Mikaela Shiffrin trailed with 56 wins. Since then, Shiffrin — who sustained an injury last week during a World Cup race in Vermont — has notched 43 additional World Cup victories, resetting the record and standing just one win away from the 100 mark.

Vonn participated in four U.S. Olympic teams from 2002 to 2018, earning three medals, including gold in the downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Games. However, knee injuries plagued her throughout her career, causing her to miss the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Yet, with her knee now pain-free and a fresh opportunity at hand, Vonn is back to explore where this journey leads, potentially towards an unexpected Olympic bid.

“It’s been 6 years since I last raced, so I have plenty of equipment to try out, discover my rhythm, and truly get into racing form,” she expressed in her Instagram update. “I am thoroughly enjoying myself and want to continue doing this!”