Sports fans can’t be trusted. Just look at Tom Brady. When he kept playing in the NFL past 40, no one called him nuts for dodging 300-pound linemen out to crush him. Similarly, when Lewis Hamilton hopped into a Ferrari F1 car at 40, no one claimed he was too old for elite racing. Even Marcel Hirscher’s ski racing comeback after five years away didn’t stir up much fuss. Yet, when Lindsey Vonn decided to hit the slopes again at 40 — after the same time away as Hirscher — the critics couldn’t wait to chime in. Sure enough, she’s silenced a lot of doubters with her performance, but that comeback didn’t happen without a fight.

For Vonn, the biggest battle wasn’t just physical, it was mental. Despite her incredible career, self-doubt had crept in long before her comeback. As she put it, “I have my insecurities like anyone else.” That vulnerability might surprise some, but it’s a reminder that even the greatest athletes can struggle with confidence. And for Vonn, those doubts didn’t stop when she took off her skis.

No, they spilled into her personal life as well. In a recent interview with CBS News, Lee Cowan put it bluntly: “You weren’t always that confident off the slopes, were you?” Vonn didn’t hesitate. “Yeah,” she admitted. For Lindsey Vonn, confidence on the slopes came naturally, but away from ski racing, it was a different story. “I’ve always been… not good,” she admitted, speaking about her struggles with self-belief in her personal life.

The absence of competitive goals and schedules began to generate uncertainty within her. She identified this as one of her persistent difficulties throughout her life. The realization of this struggle marked a critical moment for growth. “Once I recognized that, I was able to learn and grow,” she explained. At her retirement, she found herself in a better state of mind with enhanced strength and wisdom accompanied by greater self-assurance.

The time she spent in retirement proved to be exactly what she required. She expressed how amazing retirement felt to her. “I just learned who I was.” Her mental perspective changed, and that transformed everything. “I don’t need to ski. I am Lindsey Vonn.” Having invested her entire life in her sport, this important revelation was massive for her. 

Still, Vonn knows self-growth is an ongoing process. “I’m still not perfect,” she admitted. “I still have work to do, but no one’s perfect, and you just have to keep that in perspective.” Later, during an interview, the host asked her about the criticism surrounding her comeback. “I think perspective is really important,” he said. “It sounds like the criticism about your return came more from Europe than here.”

That question seemed to resonate with Vonn, who has always faced the challenge of proving herself — not just on the slopes but in the eyes of the public as well. And Vonn responded with a sharp, thoughtful reply that showed just how well she was handling it all.

Lindsey Vonn speaks out about unfair criticism