Editor’s note: Lindsey Vonn is a former Olympic alpine skiing champion and eight-time World Cup downhill season champion. With less than a year to go until the 2026 Olympics, she writes about her return to the sport at age 40 and her thoughts on possibly ending her career at the upcoming Games. The women’s competition there will be in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, where Vonn has won a record 12 times on the World Cup tour.
By Lindsey Vonn
I’ve always loved a challenge. My journey back to competitive skiing has been driven by my love of the sport, going fast, and the exhilaration that drew me to the slopes. Cortina, Italy, is a special place to me. It’s where I first realized my potential to win, and the mountains there have always felt like home to me. With next year’s Olympic Games being held in Cortina and Milan, I am eagerly awaiting the chance to once again compete in the Olympics and am excited that they happen to be somewhere that has been so special to me.
My motivations today are exactly what they were when I was a child: a deep love for skiing, speed, and competition, the very things that made me fall in love with the sport. Thanks to skiing, I’ve been fortunate enough to build an incredible life, and even though I had the most amazing and rewarding time…
