"Some hard times I would like to forget" - Lindsey Vonn makes her feelings known on rollercoaster ride of 2024

Lindsey Vonn was struggling with knee issues at the start of the year and underwent a partial knee replacement surgery. While the American skier claimed to have gone through a tough time during it, it also set her up for a comeback.

Vonn reflected on her rollercoaster 2024 year on 31st December, and expressing gratitude, the 40-year-old stated she overcame things she didn't think she could have. The Olympic champion said while she made lifetime memories, there also were moments she would want to forget.

"2024… what a year! I overcame things I never thought I could, I enjoyed life, had some hard times, amazing times, memories that will stay with me forever and some hard times I’d like to forget… but I’m thankful to be here on this journey called life. Thank you 2024…. Time to move on to 2025. ❤️," Lindsey Vonn wrote.

Vonn underwent a robot-assisted partial knee replacement surgery in April and was bedridden for several weeks. The surgery was performed by a South Florida-based orthopedist, Martin Roche, who cut off a part of her knee and replaced it with two titanium pieces.

The 40-year-old's sacrifice proved fruitful with Vonn claiming that she felt pain-free after the surgery after having struggled since her retirement in 2019, which was also because of her knee pain. The Olympic medalist announced her comeback in November before competing in her first World Cup race in nearly six years on 21st December at St. Moritz, Switzerland, where she finished 14th in a Super-G event.

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Lindsey Vonn cites Simone Biles' reference to critics of her comeback at age 40

STIFEL Birds of Prey FIS World Cup - Lindsey Vonn in action - Source: Getty

While Lindsey Vonn's comeback was wholeheartedly appreciated by the sports community with athletes ranging from Novak Djokovic to Michael Phelps lauding her, she also received some criticism due to her age with no skier having won a World Cup skiing race older than 34.

However, the 40-year-old Vonn is up to breaking the barriers in the sport and is taking inspiration from Simone Biles, who became the oldest woman in 75 years to win the all-around Olympic title in Paris this year.

"I'm not the first person to do it; I'm just maybe the first woman to do it in ski racing. Simone Biles is the perfect example of what can be done at an older age — and she's not even old. It's just outside of the confines of what we believe is the right age for the sport. I don't think I'm reinventing the wheel. I'm just doing what I feel is right for me but at the same time continuing on what other women have done before me," Lindsey Vonn said (via ESPN)

Vonn finished 14th during her opening race in St. Moritz and calling it a perfect start, she said she was cautiously skiing. She is now slated to compete in St. Anton in Austria, which features a Super-G and a downhill race.