Lindsey Vonn, at the age of 40, is all set to make a remarkable comeback in the world of ski racing this weekend. After a long hiatus of nearly six years, she will be competing in lower-level FIS downhills and super-Gs in Copper Mountain. Her decision to return has generated a lot of excitement among skiing enthusiasts.

Lindsey Vonn's Resurgence - A Skiing Phenomenon

Her Olympic Glory and Record-Breaking Career

Vonn is a three-time Olympic medalist, with a remarkable downhill gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games. Her 82 World Cup race victories once stood as a record for a woman, until it was eclipsed in January 2023 by fellow American Mikaela Shiffrin. Her achievements in the sport are truly remarkable and have left an indelible mark.During her career, Vonn faced numerous injuries, including broken arms and legs, torn knee ligaments, and concussions. Just this April, after leaving the World Cup circuit for years, she underwent surgery for a partial knee replacement. But her determination and love for the sport have kept her going.

The Challenge of Re-entering the Racing Circuit

Now, Vonn needs to improve her long-dormant ranking to enter World Cup races this season under the new wild card rule. It's a challenging task as she has been away from the racing scene for a long time. But with her past achievements and current form, she is determined to make a mark.During training at Copper Mountain with the rest of the U.S. team, Kristofic noticed that Vonn's performance was "really promising." He said, "It's getting better every time she goes out on the hill. It's been a lot of work to catch up after five years away. But she's motivated and pushing hard and I think really enjoying it, too."

Competing with the Current World Cup Racers

It's likely that many of the current World Cup racers will be competing alongside Vonn at Copper Mountain. This will add to the excitement and competitiveness of the event. Vonn will have to prove herself against these seasoned racers and show that she still has what it takes to be at the top.As Kristofic said, "I think it will be a building process. The full race intensity is something that's difficult to replicate. But I think if she stays healthy and continues to improve the way she is, I think she will be competitive."

Other Notable Skiers and Their Stories

No woman older than 34 has won a World Cup ski race. Vonn herself holds the record for the oldest woman to win a World Cup downhill at age 33 in Are, Sweden, in March 2018. The oldest female winner in any race was established at the start of this season when Federica Brignone won the giant slalom in Soelden, Austria, at age 34.The oldest man to win a race was Didier Cuche at 37 in a super-G in Crans Montana, Switzerland, in 2012. Johan Clarey set the record for the oldest podium finisher with a second-place result in the famed Hahnenkamm downhill in Kitzbuehel, Austria, at age 42 in January 2023.Bill Johnson, the first U.S. skier to win an Olympic downhill title, suffered brain injuries when he crashed badly at age 40 during a comeback attempt and died five years later.Eight-time overall World Cup champion Marcel Hirscher took advantage of the wild card rule and recently returned after five years away. But then he tore his left ACL while training in giant slalom and announced on Tuesday that his comeback season was done.Breezy Johnson, one of the U.S. team's most accomplished downhillers since Vonn's retirement, is due to return for races in Beaver Creek this month after a 14-month ban after breaking anti-doping rules. Kristofic said it's been "really difficult" for her being away from the sport.Shiffrin has gone home to Colorado to recuperate from her crash in Saturday's giant slalom in Killington. She suffered a deep puncture wound on the right side of her abdomen and "severe muscle trauma" but no serious bone, ligament or organ damage. The team is still trying to determine what exactly caused the puncture wound.Kristofic also cited strong results from the rest of the giant slalom team, with Katie Hensien finishing fourth in Soelden and Nina O'Brien sixth in Killington - both career bests; and promising 19-year-old Elisabeth Bocock earning her first World Cup points in Killington.