“A lot of people have a lot of wild ideas” - Lindsey Vonn hits out at criticism from former Swiss skiers over her professional comeback

Lindsey Vonn is one of the most successful skiers of all time, and she's making a comeback to the slopes six years after her retirement. While most fans and skiers have expressed their enthusiasm about her return, a handful of former Swiss skiers have shown their disapproval, and Vonn recently hit back at that criticism.

In November earlier this year, 2001 Giant Slalom World Championship winner Sonja Nef sat down for an interview with Blick Sport, calling Lindsey Vonn’s comeback ‘stupid.’ The former Swiss skier added that the American was returning to the sport because she couldn't cope in normal life’. In the same interview, 1997 downhill World Champion Bruno Kernen said he didn't think Vonn would make it onto a podium.

Most recently, Pirmin Zurbriggen, one of the most successful skiers of all time, hit out at Vonn over her comeback, telling Blick Sport that she ‘has not recognized the meaning and purpose of her other life in recent years.’

Now, responding to this criticism from multiple former Swiss skiers, Lindsey Vonn is setting the record straight. Speaking to Eurosport, the American said,

“I think that’s something that bothers me – is that people think that I’m taking more risks than anyone else. But I know downhill probably better than almost anyone out there.”

She went on to add that her doctors were confident in what she was doing and emphasized that she wasn't making reckless decisions.

“Things haven’t changed now that I’ve had a knee replacement. My doctors have cleared me. They are very confident in what I’m doing. I wouldn’t be doing it if it was a reckless idea. I think a lot of people have a lot of wild ideas about how crazy it is what I’m doing, but I’m not a dumb person. I’ve talked to the best doctors in the world, and they’ve cleared me to do this.”

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Lindsey Vonn impresses in her first World Cup race after retirement

Vonn in action at the Birds of Prey FIS World Cup (Image Source: Getty)

Leaving the criticism behind, Lindsey Vonn has continued to achieve new milestones in her comeback. Earlier this month, she competed at the FIS Fall Festival on home ground, where she finished 24th and 27th in the downhill and 24th and 19th in the Super G, in a field of 40 racers. This performance enabled her to qualify for the World Cup Circuit.

On Saturday, Vonn competed in her first World Cup race since her retirement in 2019, taking to the slopes of St. Moritz for the Super G event. While the 44-year-old wasn't able to keep up with the front of the pack, she delivered an impressive performance nonetheless, finishing 14th overall. The American will now return to the slopes on Sunday for another day of action.