"Really excited to be back on the team with Mikaela Shiffrin" - Lindsey Vonn delighted to rejoin the US ski team after coming out of retirement

America's alpine skiing icon Lindsey Vonn has expressed her excitement at rejoining fellow skier Mikaela Shiffrin and the rest of the US Ski Team for the 2024-25 season. Vonn has decided to come out of retirement and start a new chapter in her professional career.

The 40-year-old established herself as one of the most decorated winter athletes in history, having earned three Olympic medals (one gold and two bronze), eight world championship medals (two gold, three silver, and three bronze), and 20 World Cup Crystal Globes. Now, Vonn is coming out of retirement, six years after she decided to hang up her skiboards following her bronze medal performance at the 2019 World Championships in Sweden.

The former world record holder sparked speculations when she started her training after recovering from a knee replacement surgery and was even spotted preparing after the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup 2024-25 kicked off in Solden in October. However, she did not appear for any race.

In a recent announcement, the American standout announced that she was coming out of retirement to join Shiffrin and the rest of the US Ski Team for the remainder of the 2024-25 season. When asked if building a bond with Shiffrin and other American teammates would take time, Vonn disagreed and replied (via The New York Times):

"No, for sure not. I’m really excited to be back on the team with her and the rest of the girls.

Speaking about Shiffrin, Vonn said:

"I think it’s amazing what she’s done for the sport and I’m really excited to be her teammate again."

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Lindsey Vonn opens up on participating at the 2026 Winter Olympics - "I’ve always enjoyed racing in Cortina"

Lindsey Vonn at the Minnesota Lynx v Los Angeles Sparks (Source: Getty)

In the same interview with the New York Times, Lindsey Vonn did not rule out her participation at the 2026 Winter Olympics aka Milano-Cortina 2026, and stated that it would depend on how the next few years unfold for her.

"I’ve always enjoyed racing in Cortina and I’ve had a lot of success in Cortina," she said. "I don’t know what the next few months and the next year and a half hold for me. So I can’t say right now if it’s a possibility. But I think everyone knows how much I love Cortina."

Speaking about her alpine skiing aspirations, the Olympian said:

"My goal is to enjoy this, and hopefully that road takes me to World Cup races. I wouldn’t be back on the U.S. ski team if I didn’t have intentions. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t hope to be racing. I have aspirations. I love to go fast. How fast can I go? I don’t know."

To compete in upcoming races, Lindsey Vonn would need to earn FIS points or secure a wild card entry to re-enter the World Cup competitions.