The 41-year-old skiing star earned a spot in Cortina after a strong comeback season, marking the fifth and final Olympic appearance of her career.
WASHINGTON — Lindsey Vonn is headed back to the Olympics.
The American alpine skiing star announced Tuesday that she has officially qualified for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, marking what she says will be the fifth and final Olympic appearance of her career.
“I am honored to be able to represent my country one more time, in my 5th and final Olympics,” Vonn shared. “When I made the decision to return to ski racing, I always had one eye on Cortina because it’s a place that is very, very special to me.”
The 41-year-old returned to competitive ski racing in late 2024 after a five-year retirement and has delivered one of the strongest starts of any American this World Cup season. She has finished on the podium four times in five downhill races and currently leads the World Cup downhill standings, securing one of the four U.S. Olympic spots in the discipline.
“It was very important to me that I qualified based on my performance and results this season,” Vonn told The New York Times. “My skiing had to earn this spot, and I’m proud to have done that.”
Vonn previously dealt with injuries over the years and even had a knee replacement in 2024.
One of the most decorated skiers in Olympic history, Vonn won downhill gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games and two other Olympic medals. She retired in 2019 as the winningest women’s alpine skier at the time.
The Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are scheduled to run from Feb. 6–22, with alpine skiing events taking place in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
“Although I can’t guarantee any outcomes, I can guarantee that I will give my absolute best every time l kick out of the starting gate,” Vonn said. “No matter how these games end up, I feel like I’ve already won.”