Lindsey Vonn has been training in Sölden, Austria, alongside the world’s biggest athletes. Her presence on the Rettenbach Glacier has sent the rumor mill into overdrive around a potential return of the legendary American skier to competitive skiing five years after her retirement following a slew of knee injuries. Vonn had donned a black race suit with sponsors RedBull and Head’s logos plastered on it for her runs on the Austrian glacier.
Seeing Vonn skiing in a race suit has people wondering if the 40-year-old skier is considering a comeback to competitive skiing. Technically, the retired athlete could compete after the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) introduced a ‘wildcard’ for the 2024-25 season.
Under the definitions stated in the FIS rule book, a retired athlete can win a wildcard slot provided he or she has won a FIS World Cup Overall season title or an Olympic Gold Medal or World Championship Gold Medal. Alternatively, winners of a World Cup event season title, such as Downhill, Super-G, Giant Slalom, or Slalom, also qualify, provided they have won a minimum of five World Cups. The athlete who requests a wildcard must be retired from the FIS World Cup for a minimum of two and a maximum of ten years. All of the above conditions apply to Vonn, thus enabling her to apply for a wildcard to compete in a World Cup race.
At this point, the only thing that is confirmed is that Vonn is planning to be a forerunner at the World Cup races in Beaver Creek, Colorado, in December this year. Rumor has it that if the forerunner experience goes well, Vonn will use the wildcard system to compete in some FIS World Cup races. According to a Swiss newspaper article, Head Skis has put one of its highest-profile servicemen on Lindsey’s side with American Chris Krause, who previously worked with Ted Ligety and Bode Miller.
Vonn retired from competitive racing after the 18/19 World Cup season, having won 82 World Cup races, four FIS Alpine World Cup Overall season titles, seven World Championship titles, and one Olympic Gold. The 39-year-old skier retired due to issues with her knee, which Vonn replaced after several surgeries with an artificial knee joint.
We reached out to Ötztal Tourism, which confirmed that Lindsey Vonn was training in Sölden but admitted, “If she will start at the World Cup, we don’t know.” A comeback, even as a forerunner, is incredible news, considering the struggles Vonn has had with her knee injuries. Vonn’s knee replacement surgery was in April this year, and to see her in a shape that would even warrant these rumors just six months after such a big intervention is a testament to the athlete’s grit and determination.
The World Cup season opener in Sölden will be held this coming weekend, October 26 and 27. The women’s Giant Slalom will be held on Saturday, while the men will race on Sunday. Bibs for the women’s race will be drawn on Friday, at which point the identity of all starters will be confirmed.
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