Lindsey Vonn feeling 'stronger now than in my mid to late 20s' ahead of World Cup return in St. Moritz
Published 14/12/2024 at 13:47 GMT
Three-time Olympic medallist Lindsey Vonn was forced to call time on her iconic career in 2019 due to injury, but now she is back. The 40-year-old returned at the FIS Fall Festival in Colorado earlier this month, and has targeted returning to the form that saw her become the third-most successful female skier in the history of the World Cup. Vonn has said she feels stronger now than in her 20s.
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Lindsey Vonn has targeted getting back to her best ahead of her return to World Cup skiing in St. Moritz next Saturday.
The 40-year-old called time on her career due to injury in 2019, but was back in competitive action earlier this month to finish 24th and 27th in two downhill runs at the FIS Fall Festival in Colorado.
The three-time Olympic medallist underwent knee replacement surgery last April, allowing her to return to the sport without suffering through the pain that forced her to retire five years ago.
Vonn has revealed she feels stronger now than she did when she was competing at the highest level in her late 20s.
"No injury ever held me back until it finally broke me," she told olympics.com.
"It was pretty soon after surgery in the rehab process that I was already doing things that I hadn't done in years.
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"I feel stronger now than I did in my mid to late 20s.
"My body is cooperating. And thankfully, that titanium piece is really working out well."
The American won her sole Olympic title at the age of 26, taking gold at Vancouver 2010 ahead of compatriot Julia Mancuso and Elisabeth Gorgl of Austria.
Vonn qualified to compete at the St. Moritz World Cup, which starts on Saturday, December 21, with 24th and 19th-place finishes across her two Super-G runs.
This allowed her to qualify for wildcard entry to the event in Switzerland.
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The eight-time World Championship medallist won four overall Crystal Globes during her illustrious career, making her the third-most successful female alpine skier in the competition's history.
Vonn revealed that she will not rush her dream of a return to the top.
"I definitely have goals and expectations and I'm trying to be as patient as possible with myself on this journey and take it step by step and not skip any steps," Vonn added.
"I know my way back to a competitive level might take a race or two, but I certainly intend on getting back to where I was before."
Stream the 2024/25 Alpine skiing season live on Eurosport and discovery+.
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