Lindsey Vonn Makes Olympic Team at 41 After Knee Surgery

Lindsey Vonn is heading back to the Olympics, and her journey there proves that second chances can be spectacular.

The 41-year-old skiing icon was named to the 97-member U.S. Ski & Snowboard team, officially completing one of the most remarkable comebacks in sports history. After six years in retirement and a partial knee replacement surgery, Vonn isn't just participating—she's dominating.

This season alone, Vonn has won two World Cup downhill races, bringing her career total to an astounding 84 victories. With each win, she extends her own record as the oldest race winner in the 60-season history of the World Cup circuit.

Her path back wasn't easy. An ACL injury kept Vonn out of the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and many assumed her competitive days were over. But after undergoing partial knee replacement surgery, she returned to the slopes last season with something to prove.

Vonn says she might be in the best shape of her career despite the surgery. Her recent performances back up that claim—she'll be a favorite in both speed events when competition begins in Cortina.

The four-time overall World Cup champion has plenty of Olympic experience to draw from. She won gold in downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Games and earned bronze medals in super-G that same year and downhill in Pyeongchang in 2018.

Why This Inspires

Vonn's comeback challenges everything we think we know about age, injury, and peak performance. She's competing against athletes half her age and winning, showing that dedication and smart training can overcome what seems like insurmountable physical setbacks.

Her story resonates beyond skiing. In a culture obsessed with youth, Vonn proves that experience, determination, and the courage to try again can trump natural advantages. She's redefining what's possible for athletes in their 40s.

She'll be joined by fellow veteran Mikaela Shiffrin, who made her fourth Olympic team after going winless in 2022. Shiffrin has bounced back strong this season, winning six slalom races and looking ready to reclaim her spot at the top.

Snowboarder Chloe Kim will also compete, seeking her third consecutive gold medal in halfpipe—a feat that would cement her legacy as one of the greatest in her sport.

Sometimes the best chapters of our lives come after we think the book is closed.