Alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn is hitting the slopes again. Five years ago, Vonn retired from competitive skiing because of pain in her right knee. Now, seven months after knee replacement surgery, she’s re-joining the United States ski team with hopes to compete in the World Cup circuit this winter and possibly the 2026 Olympics. Vonn called her return to professional skiing “amazing and definitely not planned,” in an interview with the New York Times Thursday. “I’m not chasing anything; I’m not trying to prove anything to anyone,” she said. “With what I’ve done in my career, I’m thankful I can be in this position. I don’t have any pressure. It’s just me and the mountain like it was in the beginning.” Vonn has 82 World Cup victories and has appeared at four Olympic Games, winning three medals.
