Lindsey Vonn, a 41-year-old, is one of the most recognizable alpine skiers. Despite her age, she is determined to keep competing and pushing the boundaries of her limits.
Vonn has won World Cup races in all five disciplines of alpine skiing, with 83 World Cup wins. She retired in 2019 but announced her return to the snow in November 2024.
Lindsey Vonn on Competing With Younger Athletes
Following Vonn’s third-place finish at the Val d’Isere downhill race, a reporter asked her to shed some light on how she feels competing against women who are 20 years younger than she is. She noted that despite the age disparity, she enjoys competing with a diverse team.
“I think it’s a different generation, but my team is fantastic. We have people of very different ages, and everyone is unique, but we work really well together, we have a lot of fun, and it shows: the results are excellent,” she said.
“Everyone supports each other, and age doesn’t matter. What matters is working hard and having fun, and that’s what we all do. It’s a real joy to be part of this team,” she added.
Vonn recalled interacting with Allison Mollin when the latter was only 9 years old, noting that it was a full-circle moment to compete with her on the snow. She acknowledged that she doesn’t see the younger athletes as threats, but instead, wants to help them, encourage them, and ultimately bring out their “best potential” in skiing.
Vonn Pens Heartfelt Note Following Third Place Finish at Val d’Isere
Vonn won bronze in the downhill discipline, finishing 0.04 seconds ahead of Ilka Štuhec. Meanwhile, Cornelia Huetter won the race 0.35 seconds ahead of Vonn.
After the competition, Vonn took to Instagram to pen a wholesome message that read, “🥉 Another podium finish! Thankful to be up there today… despite some mistakes. Even more thankful that my Dad was there to see it 🥹 ❤️”
READ MORE: Lindsey Vonn Reveals Her Coach’s Secret Ingredient for World Cup Success at 41
Vonn also congratulated her teammates on the effort they put into the race and shared that she was excited for another chance to compete again. Notably, three Americans finished in the top 20 and six in the top 30.
Last weekend, Vonn won the World Cup event at St. Moritz, becoming the oldest alpine skier in history to win a cup event.
