Olympic alpine skiing legend Lindsey Vonn has not completely dismissed the possibility of competing at the 2030 Winter Olympics, though she made it clear any return would depend on her ability to remain competitive at an elite level.
Speaking with CNBC Sport, Vonn said she would only consider another Olympic run if she could still perform at top speed. While acknowledging that competing at age 45 would be a significant challenge, she noted that such a feat, though uncommon, has been achieved before.
Currently, Vonn is in recovery after a serious crash during a downhill run at the 2026 Winter Olympics, an incident that nearly resulted in the loss of her leg. She is undergoing intensive daily rehabilitation and is still using crutches, though she expects to walk unaided by the end of April. Another surgery is planned later this year to remove metal from her leg and repair a torn ACL sustained shortly before the Games. In total, she has undergone five surgeries in recent months.
If she does make a comeback in 2030, Vonn would rank among the oldest Olympic alpine skiers ever. For context, Sarah Schleper competed at age 46 earlier this year, representing Mexico in the women’s Super-G event.
Vonn had previously come out of a five-year retirement to regain her status as the world’s top-ranked downhill skier ahead of the 2026 Olympics. A victory in Cortina d’Ampezzo would have made her the oldest female Olympic downhill champion at 41, but her campaign ended abruptly with a crash just seconds into her run.
Reflecting on that moment, Vonn admitted she does not want that to define the end of her career, but emphasized that any decision about returning will ultimately depend on how her body recovers and responds over time.
Be the first to comment