Five years after she retired from Alpine skiing, Lindsey Vonn’s return to the sport is off to a great start.
On Friday, Vonn won the downhill World Cup race in Switzerland, becoming the oldest skier to win a World Cup event on either the men’s or women’s side. The victory is remarkable, as Vonn hadn’t competed in a competitive event in more than five years.
Lindsey Vonn takes a HUGE lead after a stunning downhill run in St Moritz! 🤩🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/mXnfagePrQ
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) December 12, 2025
Vonn’s goal is to compete in the 2026 Olympics, which would come eight years after her last Olympic appearance in 2018. That year, she finished third in the downhill in PyeongChang, marking the third Olympic medal of her career.
Here’s a look at how Vonn’s performance impacts her chances of making the 2026 Olympics.
Is Lindsey Vonn in the Olympics?
Vonn has not yet qualified for the Olympics, although this victory surely helps her case. The American skier is aiming to hit the quota required to make the U.S. Alpine skiing team ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina.
How can Lindsey Vonn qualify for the olympics?
In order to qualify for the Winter Olympics, Vonn must earn enough points in races before the January deadline. Her continued performance in World Cup events this month will go a long way toward determining whether she competes in next year’s Olympics.
How old is Lindsey Vonn?
Vonn turned 41 years-old in October, which makes her the oldest person to win an Alpine skiing World Cup race, men or women. The previous record was 34 for women's Alpine skiing and 37 for men's.
Lindsey Vonn olympic history
- 2002: Combined, 6th; Slalom, 32nd
- 2006: Super-G, 7th; Downhill, 8th; Slalom, 14th; Combined, DNF
- 2010: Downhill, 1st; Super-G, 3rd; Slalom, DNF; Giant Slalom, DNF
- 2018: Downhill, 3; Super-G, T-6; Combined, DNF
Vonn has three career Olympic medals, two bronze and a gold in the 2010 downhill competition. In fact, downhill is her best event, as she has two medals and hasn't finished lower than eighth in three career Olympic races.
Lindsey Vonn surgery and comeback
In 2024, Vonn announced she was coming out of retirement at the age of 40 to compete for a spot on the 2026 Olympic team. Vonn had a partial knee replacement surgery in April of 2024, which means she is now skiing with titanium implants in her right knee.