Lindsey Vonn ended her Alpine World Ski Championships appearance prematurely after hitting a gate at Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria on February 7, 2025. The return competition of this skiing legend ended prematurely because she hit a gate with her arm resulting in lost balance and a dramatic slowdown.
Following the quick termination Vonn gave comfort to her supporters about her well-being. “I am OK. Through the race, she had struck her arm nerve which caused loss of sensation but her arm is recovering at a slow rate according to Vonn. The 40-year-old athlete entered the competition while affected by a severe cold condition although she decided to continue participating in what proved to be her comeback event.
Vonn participated in her first world championship race since taking retirement in 2019. Her comeback experience has proven challenging because she needed to learn new equipment while mastering the requirements of elite competition. She has entered the finish line in only one of the four tournament races that she entered during this period.
With great tenacity, Vonn is attempting to enter the races, beginning with tomorrow’s downhill events, followed by Tuesday’s alpine combined events. It is hoped that Vonn will feel ready to continue preparations for the next Winter Olympics event in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
In the same super-G event, Austria’s Stephanie Venier scored a gold medal, while Italy’s Federica Brignone placed second. The bronze was shared by Lauren Macuga of the U.S. and Kajsa Vickhoff Lie of Norway. Vonn congratulated her fellow American skier Macuga for finishing on the podium, leading to some comments on the bright future of skiing in the US.
Despite the disappointing comeback, Vonn remains a great inspiration to fans and fellow competitors. As Vonn embarks on her return journey, the skiing world will be keeping a keen eye on her upcoming few races.