by Elsie Husted ’28 on February 12, 2026
Sports - Olympics
It’s no doubt that the biggest storyline of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics is Lindsey Vonn’s return. Vonn has been an iconic name in skiing for years.
Born in St. Paul, MN, Vonn began skiing when she was three, when her father, a former competitive skier, began coaching her. Vonn began competing at seven years old, and by the time she turned nine, she was competing internationally. In 1999, Vonn made history when she won the slalom at Trofeo Topolino in Italy at just 14 years old. Vonn’s junior career took off as she began winning at an astonishing pace, helping her to secure a spot on Team USA in the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, UT.
The only thing slowing Vonn down was her recurring knee injuries. Before the 2019 World Championships, Vonn announced that due to a knee injury, she would be retiring. At 34 years old, Vonn had nothing left to prove. She was already one of the most decorated female skiers. She was the most decorated female skier in FIS Alpine Ski World Cup history with 82 wins, and had represented Team USA in four Winter Games. She cemented her legacy in the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, where she became the first American woman to win gold in downhill skiing.
Five years into her retirement, Vonn began to feel the desire to compete again. In November of 2024, at 40 years old, Vonn received a partial knee transplant in the hopes of treating her previous knee injuries. Quickly after her surgery, Vonn announced her plan to come out of retirement and rejoin the U.S. Ski Team. In her first season back, Vonn finished No.2 in the Super-G at the 2025 Finals. But Vonn didn’t stop there. Nearly seven years after her last World Cup victory, Lindsey won gold in the downhill race at the St. Moritz World Cup. Despite her success, Vonn’s primary motivation for returning was to compete at the 2026 Olympic Games.
There isn’t a better place for Vonn to finish off her career. Vonn has had enormous success at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo. She already holds the course record for wins in Cortina, with 12 World Cup victories. However, not all of Vonn’s memories of Cortina are positive. After a poor performance in 2019, Vonn realized that her knee injuries might force her into retirement. “But for me, there’s something special about Cortina that always pulls me back, and it’s pulled me back one last time,” Vonn said.
Beyond skiing, Vonn also has a more personal connection to Cortina. She has fond memories of her family cheering her on there, specifically her mother, who passed away in 2022.
The stage was set for Vonn’s Olympic comeback. She had overcome adversity and was finally beginning to ski like her old self. However, on January 30, at the World Cup race in Crans-Montana—her final race before the Olympics—Vonn crashed. After losing control while trying to land due to conditions and poor visibility, she ended up crashing into the safety nets. Doctors later diagnosed Vonn with a completely ruptured ACL. However, Vonn did not let this stop her. Determined to return to the Olympic stage, she continued to prepare for her upcoming race.
This past Sunday morning, Vonn prepared to ski her first race of the Olympic season, the downhill final. However, seconds after leaving the start gate, she lost control and crashed. For the second time in just over a week, Vonn was evacuated from the course to undergo medical treatment. She quickly received medical attention, and doctors were able to perform surgery to stabilize a fracture in her leg.
Although Vonn’s Olympic goals ended in heartbreak, there is no understating the impact she has had on the ski world. She has shown her dedication, grit, and resilience to the world. Her character continued to shine even after defeat, as she cheered on her American teammate, Breezy Johnson, who would eventually win gold, while being medically evacuated from the course.