Lindsey Vonn's Historic Olympic Comeback: Single for First Time at Milano Cortina
After missing the 2022 Olympic Games, skiing icon Lindsey Vonn is staging a remarkable return to competition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. What makes this comeback particularly noteworthy for the 41-year-old champion is that she will be competing as a single athlete for the very first time in her Olympic career.
A New Chapter in Personal and Professional Life
"I have never been single going into any Olympics in my life," Vonn revealed in an exclusive interview with Self magazine. "So I'm excited to try that out." This represents a significant personal milestone for the athlete, whose previous Olympic appearances coincided with high-profile relationships.
Vonn was married to fellow skier Thomas Vonn from 2007 to 2013, followed by a relationship with golf legend Tiger Woods from 2013 to 2015. More recently, she was engaged to former NHL star P.K. Subban before their separation in 2020. "It's been really nice to just be focused on myself," Vonn explained, emphasizing that she is now completely dedicated to her skiing career without romantic distractions.
From Retirement to Remarkable Recovery
Vonn's journey back to Olympic competition is nothing short of extraordinary. The Olympic gold medalist and four-time World Cup champion initially retired from professional skiing in 2019 after battling persistent injuries and chronic pain. However, her competitive spirit remained undiminished.
In April 2024, Vonn underwent a partial knee replacement surgery that was intended to provide pain relief for daily living. Instead, the procedure unexpectedly opened the door for her competitive return. "In my mind, you know, logically ... the next step would be to try ski racing," she told Self magazine about her thought process following the surgery.
The results have been nothing short of spectacular:
- Less than a year after her surgery, Vonn finished second in the super-G at the World Cup Finals in Idaho
- She became the oldest woman ever to podium in World Cup competition
- This season alone, she has won two World Cup downhill races
- Her career World Cup victory total now stands at an impressive 84 wins
Proving Doubters Wrong with Experience and Wisdom
"It definitely felt nice to prove people wrong," Vonn admitted regarding her comeback success. "But you know yourself better than anyone else. And you have to listen to what you know you can do, and I knew I could do it."
Her recent performance at the FIS Alpine Skiing World Cup in Tarvisio, Italy on January 18, 2026, where she stood on the podium after the Women's Super G event, demonstrates that Vonn remains a formidable competitor. She enters the Milano Cortina Olympics as a favorite in both speed events, bringing unparalleled experience to the competition.
The Final Olympic Chapter
Vonn has confirmed that Milano Cortina will mark her final Olympic appearance. "No, no, no. That's all she wrote," she stated with laughter when asked about future competitions. "This is 24 years after my first Olympics. I've won everything I could have ever won. I'm not doing this to prove anything to anyone."
Instead, Vonn approaches these Games with different motivations: "I'm doing this because I think I can do well, it's a meaningful place for me, and I think I can make a positive impact."
The veteran skier believes her age and experience provide unique advantages: "I'm going to stand on the starting gate with a lot of clarity, and a lot of perspective, and a lot of wisdom and knowledge that you don't have when you're younger. I think my age in this scenario is an advantage, and I'm gonna use that to the best of my ability."
As Lindsey Vonn prepares for her historic final Olympic appearance, she represents not just athletic excellence but the power of perseverance, reinvention, and competing on one's own terms. Her journey from retirement through major surgery to Olympic qualification stands as one of the most remarkable comebacks in winter sports history.
