Lindsey Vonn is back on the US ski team. It is still unclear when and whether the 40-year-old will return to the World Cup. But the euphoria is already noticeable. Also with other drivers.
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- Lindsey Vonn returns to the ski circus.
- This weekend, the 40-year-old will be taking part in the US ski team’s training sessions in Colorado, as Vonn confirmed on Instagram.
- Some ski stars are in touch and are already looking forward to the comeback of the former speed dominator.
Marcel Hirscher actually doesn’t seem to be the only ski superstar who wants to do it again this winter, several years after retiring. Now Lindsey Vonn is also about to return to the World Cup. On Thursday afternoon it was announced that the 40-year-old would officially be part of the US ski team again from Friday.
It doesn’t take long before Vonn speaks out personally on Instagram. “So, we’re off to Colorado. I hope the US ski team suit still fits me,” she writes in a video that shows her squatting downhill again.
Reactions from Braathen, Sarrazin and Co.
The answer from the US ski team follows immediately: “We’re bringing a few extras with us, just in case…” In Colorado, the speed team will prepare for the first descents of the season in December. Nina O’Brien, Breezy Johnson and other members of the US team are really looking forward to their new prominent teammate. “Let’s go!” can be read everywhere.
It’s not just Americans who are excited about Vonn’s comeback intentions. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who also made his comeback for Brazil after a year of absence, commented on the post with a princess emoji. Downhill crack Cyprien Sarrazin also makes his presence felt in the comments with emojis (😮💨 🙌🏽). Felix Neureuther also writes: “Let’s go!”.
The next few days and weeks will show how quickly Vonn – five years after retiring – will recover with her artificial knee joint, which she has had since April of this year. “I’m trying not to take on too much because I still have a few hurdles to overcome,” she tells the New York Times.
The 82-time World Cup winner is definitely not traveling to Colorado just for fun. “My goal is to enjoy this and hopefully this path will lead me to World Cup races,” she says. “I wouldn’t be back on the US ski team if I didn’t have intentions.”
Federer and the squeezed lemon
Did Roger Federer inspire Vonn to go all out again? Vonn talks about a conversation with Federer. “He said something that kind of stuck with me,” Vonn said. “He said, ‘I squeezed every drop I had out of the lemon. There was nothing left I could give.”
Vonn continued: “And I felt like I had done that in my career. I tried as hard as I could. But I feel like my lemon has more juice now,” Vonn concludes.
The World Cup calendar calls for the women to travel to Beaver Creek in the USA for speed races in December. Vonn could at least act as a precursor there, which would further flesh out her return to the international stage.
