Norwegian skier Aksel Lund Svindal, who retired in 2019, shared how being part of Lindsey Vonn’s journey as her coach during the ongoing 2025-26 Alpine Skiing World Cup season has changed everything. Vonn has been nothing short of an inspiration this season, claiming her first podium finish since 2018.
The 41-year-old returned to the slopes in the 2024-25 season, ending a six-year retirement that followed a series of injuries.
Former Skier Aksel Lund Svindal Makes Feelings Known About Training Lindsey Vonn
Vonn has dedicated months to training both in the gym and on the slopes in the lead-up to the World Cup season. She even took part in a training camp in St. Moritz ahead of the speed events at the venue, all under the guidance of former skier Aksel Lund Svindal, who has been coaching her over the past few months.
In a recent Instagram post, the two-time overall World Cup champion shared that coaching was not on his bucket list until the American approached him. He also described Vonn’s journey as inspiring and praised her success on the slopes after overcoming numerous challenges along the way. He wrote:
“Ski-racing! The last 6 months I’ve spent a lot of time back in this world.⛷️ I knem (sic) that I missed it, but I didn’t even think about coaching. Then @lindseyvonn called me up and asked if I wanted to be her coach. And I’m very happy she did. Thank you! Because this journey is very inspiring 😊. The prosess (sic) and the improvement in the training, the challenges along the way, and Lindsey getting after it on race-day.”
Vonn’s gold podium in the St. Moritz downhill event this year made her the oldest skier in history to achieve the feat. This came months after she earned her first podium finish, a runner-up result, at the Sun Valley finals in the 2024-25 season.
Vonn Makes Feelings Known After Qualifying for Milano Cortina Games in 2026
Vonn has qualified for her fifth Olympic Games following her unprecedented success in the 2025-26 World Cup season. In a post after securing her spot, the American skier expressed pride in earning the opportunity to represent her country for the fifth and final time.
She also noted that her sole motivation behind making a comeback was to compete at the Games, which she considers her last. The 41-year-old said she cannot guarantee any particular outcome but will always give her best in every race.
The speed specialist underwent partial knee replacement surgery in January 2024, and her return to a sport as physically demanding as alpine skiing stands as a testament to her grit and determination.
