No, Lindsey Vonn didn’t enter Beaver Creek as the participant. Well, she showed up and skied through the course as a forerunner. Last week, she entered two super-Gs in Copper Mountain in the USA. Her fiery run gave her two positions (19th and 24th) in that lower-level competition. Those were Vonn’s first competitive races after her retirement in February 2019. And those gave away what the Alpine ski racing legend wanted—a gate pass for the FIS Ski World Cup 2024. So, things hyped up when Vonn showed up in the iconic Birds of Prey course in the women’s downhill race at Beaver Creek. After all, the race was scheduled for the FIS Ski World Cup 2024. Then?

Lindsey Vonn played her part as the forerunner in the race, skiing on the course before the actual race. But she will return as the competitor. The points earned in last week’s races have earned her a ticket. But the question still remains: when? 

Lindsey Vonn confirms her opening race in the FIS Ski World Cup 

The moment couldn’t have been better than this. After the Killington race on November 30 and December 1, the US women’s Alpine ski racing team faced a severe crisis. Three ski racers, including Mikaela Shiffrin, came under the grip of injuries. So, the team’s chance of faring well in the season experienced a massive blow. But fans worry not, as the ski racing queen is here now to take the reins. On December 14, in the post-race interaction, Vonn confirmed to feature in Saint Moritz next week as a competitor. This brought a sense of relief to many fans who eagerly anticipated her competing in her best health. Nonetheless, for such fans, Lindsey had another intriguing piece of news. 

In her conversation with Cara Banks, Lindsey shared her health update. She said, “I mean, you know, my partial knee replacement went so well, and I have no pain and no swelling.” For a significant number of years, Lindsey Vonn experienced unbearable pain in her right knee. The frightening crashes during the races and falls made her knees ache. She came under the knives and needles several times to remove the pain. But nothing helped, and the injury forced her to retire in 2019. Now, five years later, Lindsey Vonn is on her feet again. This reformed state feels like fresh air to her. How?

While conversing with the host, the 40-year-old skiing duchess said, “I can’t tell you how big of a difference it makes to be able to ski without pain. It’s a completely new world for me. I haven’t felt this good in 15 years, so I’m excited to be back.” This massive change in her condition followed her knee replacement surgery in April this year. Everything related to the surgery went so well that a ten-week break allowed her to ski without experiencing pain. Six months later, Lindsey Vonn is counting her chances before moving into her first World Cup race since 2019. Does she have any goals set for her? 

The ski racing legend looks solid in achieving her target 

In her interview with The New York Times, Lindsey Vonn opened up on the targets set by her in her second inning. She clarified, “I’m not going to put myself in a position to fail. My goal is to enjoy this, and hopefully, that road takes me to World Cup races. I wouldn’t be back on the U.S. ski team if I didn’t have intentions.” The firm words pointed at her return to the 2026 Winter Olympics Games, set in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The venue is super special to her, adorning her with 12 World Cup races. Yet, no competitions in that Italian snow region have involved her participation after 2018. 

Hopefully, the Winter Olympic Games will earn Lindsey Vonn a prized occasion to test her skiing boots on the slopes. On December 14, she confirmed her goal again, set in her fresh endeavor. In her conversation with Cara Banks, Vonn said, “I’ve tried to keep everything in perspective and not set, you know, goals too high. But ultimately, if I can make it to Cortina, that would be my goal.” For Lindsey Vonn, the road to the Winter Olympics has already started from Copper Mountain. Will she be able to take it to the Italian town in 2026? What do you think?