"How I have wanted to be back in the starting gate" – Lindsey Vonn makes heartfelt admission after returning to Cortina World Cup

Lindsey Vonn shared her thoughts on returning to Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy for her first World Cup race at the event in six years. Vonn came out of retirement last year after getting a new titanium knee and made her comeback in December 2024.

Vonn's return to Cortina didn't start well with the three-time Olympic medalist suffering a crash on her first day at the venue during training. She placed 20th in Saturday's downhill race and crashed again during Sunday's Super-G after being on pace for a historic podium finish.

However, the American skier was nonetheless elated to return to the venue where she holds the record for most World Cup victories (12).

"Cortina… how I have wanted to be back in the starting gate and to see the peaks of the Dolomites again! You never disappoint😍," she wrote in an Instagram post on Tuesday.

Vonn also expressed disappointment over the skiing results over the weekend and said she would return to Cortina for the 2026 Winter Olympics, where she aims to hang up her skis for the last time.

"Wish I had been able to put together some better runs but I still need some time, training and patience. Good thing is, there are some big races there next year.…👀 But for now… it’s time to get ready for the next races this weekend in Garmisch 💪🏻," Lindsey Vonn added.

Vonn had earned sixth and fourth places in downhill and Super-G respectively in St. Anton earlier this, her best since making a comeback. She would hope to improve those results over the next weekend when she skis at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

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"I'm trying to be patient" - Lindsey Vonn after crashing on pace to podium finish in Cortina

Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup - Lindsey Vonn in action - Source: Getty

Lindsey Vonn was on pace to a podium finish during Sunday's Super-G race in Cortina, crossing the second of third checkpoints in the fifth-fastest time before she lost her balance in the down stretch. The 40-year-old, who could have become the oldest skier to make the podium, said she couldn't put her race together despite skiing well and would need to be patient to get the results.

"I was skiing really well. In general this weekend was really positive, but I couldn't quite put it together. It's going to take a little time. Last weekend went so well that everyone's expectations were really high. But this is a journey that no one's taken before. So I'm trying to be patient," she said (via ESPN).

The Olympic champion has 82 World Cup victories to her name, which is the third highest in the sport. While no skier older than 34 has ever won a World Cup race, Vonn is up for breaking the barriers in the sport.