The last time Lindsey Vonn raced was way back in 2019. A full six years from now! Competing in a downhill world championship in Sweden, Vonn finished third in the final race of her career. And while she still seemed to be on top of her game, there were issues with her physical health. Over the years, skiing had broken down her body significantly, and she suffered some of the brutal injuries. And the biggest obstacle to Vonn continuing with her career was her knee. The pain was just too much to bear for the alpine skiing legend. 

Well, that was until she decided to switch to titanium knees and make a comeback to the sport yet again. Yes, you heard it right. Lindsey Vonn will be racing on the snow once again! After having her knee partially replaced, Vonn was overwhelmed by the fact she had no more pain in her legs. While this was a huge relief, the alpine skiing legend had another idea brewing in her mind. She thought, What if the new titanium was the key to unlocking new potential? 

And thus, she started. In preparation for her races, the 40-year-old ran in a couple of super-G races. She finished just more than 2 seconds behind, which made her feel that her mojo was right where it was supposed to be. Of course, she still has a lot of fine-tuning to do, both with her technique and with her equipment. And Vonn looks fully committed towards the same. She has been toiling hard every day, and at 40, the legend is going through a training regime like never before. 

Detailing her daily schedule, Vonn gave out a stern warning to her opponents. “I’m loving every single second, but I’m not out here just for fun,” she said. “I’m working hard for a reason. I’ve had a couple of sessions at 3:45 in the morning. There’s nothing I would wake up early for except ski racing,” said Vonn in an interview with the Associated Press. She further mentioned how her disciplined training is making her feel young. And on top of that, none of her younger teammates has been treating her like a veteran. Now, these are everything that Vonn asked for making a comeback.

But there’s one more reason why the legendary skier is making her way back to the snow. Speaking to the Associated Press recently, Vonn made it clear that she was doing this all for herself. After achieving almost everything in skiing, the records do not lure her now. It is just a matter of checking whether she is still worthy of the snow. Even if that meant picking up some scary bruises.

Lindsey Vonn shows off her skiing scars

Vonn is a three-time Olympic champion, along with innumerable trophies ornamenting her trophy cabinet. Thus, at 40, there was no need for her to take a fresh plunge. But Vonn is made differently, and she constantly wants to challenge limits. Ever since getting into the training program, the legend has faced the heat. Sometimes, the brunt was so much that she was left with marks of her toil. In a recent Instagram upload on December 5, Vonn revealed a purple patch on her arm. Now, that must have hurt a lot. But Vonn casually addressed her wound with a nonchalant, “This happens.”