Lindsey Vonn has spent a lot of time in two places: on the slopes doing what she loves and in hospital rooms dealing with the aftermath of injuries. After a career full of crashes and setbacks, she retired in 2019. But at 40, she made a surprising return to skiing after five years away. On December 7, at the FIS Fall Festival in Copper Mountain, Colorado, Vonn raced in two downhill runs, finishing 24th and 27th out of 45 skiers. While it was an impressive comeback, many people didn’t hold back in criticizing her about her recent stint.

There came a point when Lindsey Vonn had enough of the criticism about her performance. In response, she took to X, posting, “I’m sure a lot of people who don’t know anything about ski racing have negative things to say about the results, but it was training and to qualify for the World Cup… I put zero thought behind such headlines.” With that, she shut down the critics, but the comments didn’t stop. Now, it seems her friend is stepping up to defend her.

Sofia Goggia, who’s not only a close friend of Lindsey Vonn but also considers her a “mentor,” recently reunited with her idol during training at Copper Mountain. Goggia couldn’t hold back when she heard the criticism of Vonn’s return to skiing, saying, “I’ve heard so many people say, ‘She doesn’t know what to do with her life, she has nothing better to do.’ No, the fact is that she truly loves that. Lindsey loves skiing, and so she wants to do this. Let her do it. It’s purely out of her passion.” Goggia’s words show just how much she stands behind Vonn and her decision to return to the sport.

At the same time, Goggia told about when things started to be difficult for her after the latest injury: the Italian was left with multiple leg fractures after a training fall at the beginning of the year and confessed that she had had a dark phase. She added, “And Lindsey, clearly, with the career she’s had, also full of injuries, has been incredibly understanding and, of course, very supportive.” However, when Goggia came to know about Vonn’s return, she didn’t hold back.

Goggia supports Lindsey Vonn’s comeback to dominate

Back in February, Sofia Goggia broke her right tibia and tibial malleolus in training; this happened in a giant slalom at Ponte di Legno. The injury was so highly damaging that she thought it had the potential to end her career. Doctors were unable to determine how the injury could be corrected, and Goggia couldn’t walk for 45 days. She said it was a nightmare and explained that it was very tiring physically and psychologically. And now, she’s better and can move her legs perfectly. Even the last few weeks have given her evidence she can fully recover and compete again. Still, she admits that at first, she hardly felt herself on the slopes, but now she is very confident.

Meanwhile, Goggia has also been observing her friend Lindsey Vonn, who is making a return to skiing after injury and also has closely witnessed the events of the World Cup. Vonn was back skiing with an artificial knee looking to make a statement on the slopes.

Goggia was overjoyed when she heard that Vonn wanted to come back. As she puts it, “When I found out that Lindsey wanted to come back, I was over the moon. Because it means she’s doing well. We have the opportunity to share beautiful moments together again,” But Goggia was also worried for Vonn, as she puts it, “because we know that we are practicing a dangerous sport.” Still, Goggia has her own concerns, for which she supports her friend unconditionally. For her part, Vonn feels prepared to take up the challenge. Let’s see what the future holds for them!