'A second chance' - legend Vonn exceeds own comeback expectations

Lindsey Vonn says she has surprised herself with how well her comeback has gone since returning to ski racing - after being forced to quit through injury almost six years ago.

The 40-year-old retired in February 2019 with knee problems following a glittering career that included Olympic and World Championship golds and 82 World Cup wins.

But after having a titanium knee replacement and being able to ski pain-free again, Vonn decided to give racing another go.

The American finished 14th in her first World Cup race back in December, and came fourth and sixth last weekend in super-G and downhill races in St Anton, Austria.

In an interview with the BBC's Ski Sunday, Vonn said: "I didn't expect anything that has happened this year.

"Even when I said I was going to race again, I didn't even expect to race in St Anton, because I thought there would be no way I'd be ready to race there. It's such a challenging hill.

"I've definitely far exceeded my expectations by a long shot."

Her return has not been met with universal approval, with former racers Bernhard Russi and Michaela Dorfmeister criticising her decision, calling it stupid and dangerous.

Vonn added: "I don't know why my comeback was such a big problem.

"I'm not hurting anyone doing what I'm doing. I think my answer was pretty clear last weekend.

"There was one apology, publicly, on a podcast. But my phone didn't ring and I don't accept anything other than a phone call because what they said about me is totally unacceptable and disrespectful."

After quitting the sport, Vonn focused on her foundation and business as well as learning to flyboard, wakeboard and play tennis.

But, still experiencing pain, she made a decision to have the operation on her right knee.

"I was doing more therapy in retirement than I was when I was racing," Vonn explained.

"I did it for my own longevity, for my own wellbeing. That was my motivation – to be pain-free and to live the life I tried to build for myself."

The surgery went well and Vonn was loving her life, but something was missing. It was the buzz of skiing fast again.

"Life as a ski racer is pretty simple," she said. "You work hard, you do the right thing, and when you're in the start gate you just want to go fast. I missed that."

Vonn asked her surgeon how far she could push her knee and to what level could she contemplate competing again.

"He told me it was up to me," Vonn said. "He said if it doesn't hurt and it feels good, the titanium knee is not going anywhere.

"There's other risk factors, obviously. I have other ligaments, it's like a normal knee. "Things can go wrong, but the titanium knee component is indestructible."

Vonn competes in Cortina in Italy on Saturday and Sunday and it is a hill she knows very well, having won 12 World Cup races there - the last in 2018.

She crashed during training on Thursday but brushed off any injury concerns.

"I'm really excited to be back here," Vonn said.

"I've been watching videos of the past races. They have been so meaningful to my life. It means a lot to me. I'm just out here, having fun."

The course tantalisingly also plays host to the women's races at the 2026 Winter Olympics which are only a year away.

Vonn is not looking too far ahead for what would be a fifth Winter Games and almost a quarter of a century since her first in 2002.

"I don't think this weekend's results mean anything for the next Olympics," she said.

"It [Olympics] depends on whether I can stay healthy, figure out my equipment, can I maintain this level of skiing for another year? I don't know the answer to those questions.

"I'm going to enjoy this weekend as if it's the last time I ski here and we'll see what every day brings."

If Vonn were able to record a World Cup win, she would comfortably become the oldest man or woman to do so.

"My new knee has given me a second chance. Life is short so I'm going to take it," she added.