“Well, it’s off to Colorado…. I hope the [U.S. Ski Team] uniform still fits.” These lines by Lindsey Vonn 5 years after retirement sent her fans into a frenzy. Skiing at 40? And with an artificial knee? Indeed, there has been an influx of opinions ever since the U.S. Ski & Snowboard welcomed the veteran back to the squad. To Vonn’s supporters, these are the ultimate signs of courage and ambition, while to the skeptics, it may look like absolute madness.

Are the professionals correct in doubting Vonn’s chances of making the podium, or will her fans’ belief that she’ll nail it this season prove true? We’ll have to wait to see that. But Vonn believes, “With this new knee that is now a part of me… I feel like a whole new chapter of my life is unfolding before my eyes.” Indeed, this fresh start is thrilling her fans as well.

Lindsey Vonn reunites with her U.S. Ski teammates

One of her recent Instagram posts captures the moments of Lindsey Vonn’s first practice with the Stifel U.S. Ski team since her comeback. She shows off her blue Team USA jersey, one that she’s probably missed for the past 5 years, in a back shot. Also, seen training alongside her American teammates, Sofia Goggia, Allison Mollin, Jacqueline Wiles, and others, Vonn appears to be right in her element! Moreover, the caption perfectly resonates with Vonn’s sentiment, indicating that she’s thrilled to rejoin the American squad. She writes, “Happy to be back with the team 🇺🇸🙌🏻 missed you ladies!” 

Now there are many who are ecstatic about Lindsey Vonn’s comeback, like Bella Wright, who had previously stated, “Lindsey is someone who has really been there for me throughout my time on the World Cup circuit. I never got the opportunity to be Lindsey’s teammate in the past, so the opportunity to ski alongside her is extremely exciting! I can’t wait to see what the U.S. women can do this season.” But, there’s also a handful of those who have their speculations about Vonn adding another World Cup win months after she underwent a total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

We recently saw how the former Swiss champion Sonja Nef cited her doubts, saying, “Impossible. At 40, you can’t go full throttle like that, and especially not with an artificial knee joint.” Along similar lines, Bruno Kernen opined that Vonn may not be able to step on the podium, although she may enter the top 10 list sporadically. Moreover, he even said that her rise in the rankings varies with the fluctuations in the terrain and the snow conditions. However, Lindsey Vonn’s fans are as ecstatic as ever. And here’s how they have been reacting to the snippets of her first practice with the American side.

Vonn’s fans are over the moon about her comeback

“Love seeing the 🐐 back on the slopes!” wrote a fan, thrilled by the videos of Lindsey Vonn sliding down the slopes in Team USA gear. Naturally, when a skiing veteran with 4 World Cup titles and 20 discipline globes returns to the competitive slopes, the excitement is expected to be through the roof! And Vonn’s case is no different.

Despite having 3 Olympic and 8 glistening World Championship medals in her cabinet, her fans believe that the 2024-25 season can be her grandest so far. Thus, another one commented, “So exciting! 40 could be your most amazing year yet!”

Everyone—from her supporters to contemporaries and even the President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard Sophie Goldschmidt—seems to be elated over her return. Commenting on Lindsey Vonn’s comeback, she said, “Lindsey has made an indelible mark on alpine skiing and our organization throughout her career.” Thus, Sophie welcomed the skier home with open arms and remained keen to see where Vonn could go from her.

In fact, one of the enthusiasts went as far as stating that they had been on tenterhooks ever since she retired, waiting for her to stage a comeback in the sport. They wrote, “We’ve been waiting for this day for the past five years!👏👏” Unfortunately so, but Lindsey Vonn had endured numerous injuries throughout her career. And no matter how hard she tried to rise back up post her injuries, she ultimately ended up retiring from competitive skiing in 2019. On the contrary, there are also people who think that Vonn’s decision may not be that practical.

Austrian skier Franz Klammer opined, “If she [Vonn] does stage a comeback, she is crazy!” Well, there have been skiers like Bill Johnson who have tried returning back at 40 and that hasn’t ended quite well. In fact, he suffered a life-threatening crash that left his brain severely injured.

But when it comes to Lindsey Vonn, people are mostly concerned about her knee. German skier Felix Neureuther said, “At those speeds… the jumps with an artificial knee joint…, that’s tough,” he said. But the fans have been seeing Lindsey Vonn putting in the grind in the gym and on the slopes. Thus, one of them commented, “That new knee looks twice as strong.”

Well, the 3x Olympic medalist has time and again assured that her knee is pain-free. Lindsey Vonn was recently spotted jumping on her right leg—something she hadn’t dared to try in years. And, in case she goes on to excel at the World Cup, she’ll set a standard that women skiers can still hit their stride at 40. What do you think of this? Let us know below!