Lindsey Vonn has proved the fact that health is truly wealth. After having retired back in 2019, the extent of her knee injury seemed unending. Suffering from significant knee complications, everybody expected Vonn to lead a happily retired life. But that was not to be! Undergoing knee replacement surgery, she was again able to move freely. At this point, Vonn made a shocking announcement about her return to competitive skiing at 40. While critics left no opportunity to hit back at Vonn for her decision, the skiing sensation was not letting haters get the better of her. If anything, she has her eyes set on a bigger goal, she recently got candid about her comeback, and if anything it just makes her love for the slopes all the more evident.

In a recent announcement, Vonn made it clear that she will be eyeing Milan-Cortina 2026 as her next big goal. And she has finally broken silence on what made her comeback when everyone least expected to. Sitting down with CBS News for an interview, Vonn opened up about her entire journey. From getting injured and retiring, getting through the pain, her operations, and finally her comeback. 

Hearing her story, the host was equally awestruck and asked her why she wanted to do this all over again. Vonn opined that after she could not race anymore was when she realized how much she missed skiing. “I really do love that so much and and the passion for ski racing has never gone away. I just have found different things to challenge myself so I just have a different perspective and I don’t need to do this. I don’t need to prove anything to anybody. I’m not doing it for any other reason other than I love ski racing,” said Vonn. She also mentioned that Cortina is one of her most favorite places to run. So much so, that she didn’t know if she would come back if it wasn’t Cortina. 

Unfortunately, her comeback has been met with some scathing criticisms. Several prominent skiers have questioned whether the Minnesota native fully knew the consequences of her decision. What they implied was the fact that whether or not Vonn would be able to remain injury-free at the advanced age of 40. Thankfully, amidst all the negativities, Vonn found a skiing legend who stood by her support.

Lindsey Vonn silences critics as Marcel Hirscher defends her comeback

The Olympic champion’s return to competitive skiing has sparked intense criticism. However, legendary Austrian skier Marcel Hirscher isn’t standing for it. Hirscher, a close friend of Vonn, has openly condemned the backlash, calling it “very unfair” and highlighting the double standards faced by female athletes.

“I can’t understand those messages because for me it is just inspiring,” Hirscher said, defending Vonn’s decision to come out of retirement. After undergoing partial knee replacement surgery in April 2024, Lindsey took the major decision to return to the slopes again. Her performance in Sankt Anton am Arlberg, where she finished sixth in the downhill and fourth in the super-G, was just 1.24 seconds behind winner Lauren Macuga. It stunned even the seasoned pros. “It was crazy, I mean, no one was expecting this,” Hirscher admitted. The Austrian skiing sensation also underscored the broader implications of Vonn’s resilience.

 “She showed us that if you have a big dream, mostly it doesn’t matter how huge the steps are that have to be taken,” the Austrian-Dutch racer noted. the 40-year-old’s ability to push through adversity and deliver such a strong comeback reinforced her status as an icon in the sport. “So she is a big role model for all human beings.”

While male athletes are often celebrated for their comebacks, Lindsey Vonn’s return has been met with skepticism — a disparity Hirscher called out. “This kind of criticism only goes for women,”. Backed by one of the greatest skiers of all time, the Olympic champion’s comeback stands not only as a personal triumph but also as a powerful statement against the double standards in professional sports.