Still Going Fast: Lindsey Vonn’s Comeback and What It Teaches Us
January 29th, 2026 by Diane Conklin under Business - General, Business Strategy. No Comments.
Most comeback stories are inspiring. But Lindsey Vonn’s — at 41, after a career defined by its speed, its risks, and its injuries — might be one of the most instructive blueprints for anyone trying to rebuild, reset, or redefine success in business.
Lindsey Vonn’s remaking the narrative around what’s possible when preparation, resilience, and purpose come together.
And it’s not just about skiing…
Even before the most recent comeback, Lindsey Vonn was already a legend. She’s one of the greatest Alpine skiers in history — Olympic downhill gold in 2010, three Olympic medals overall, four World Cup overall titles, 82 World Cup race wins, and podiums across multiple disciplines.
But her story wasn’t all smooth lines and fastest times. Vonn’s career was punctuated by injuries that would have ended lesser athletes:
- Multiple knee injuries, including torn ACLs and MCLs,
and severe knee degeneration tied to years of high-speed racing. - At least nine separate surgeries over her career to fix ligament
damage and fractures. - Retirement in 2019 because her right knee pain was so debilitating
that even simple daily movements were difficult.
Vonn walked away at the height of her legend because her body simply wouldn’t cooperate. Every athlete struggles with limits. Vonn lived them.
Fast forward to April 2024 — 5 years after retirement, she made a decision few anticipated. After the persistent pain and limitations that ended her career, Vonn underwent a knee replacement surgery, implanting titanium components that relieved chronic pain and renewed mobility.
That one decision — to solve the underlying problem rather than manage symptoms — is a core business lesson. Too often, leaders patch issues with tweaks or temporary fixes instead of addressing root causes.
With pain behind her, Vonn didn’t rush back blindly. She trained, earned FIS points to qualify for races, and in December 2024 made her official comeback on the World Cup circuit.
Return stories are often celebrated for heart — but Vonn’s comeback is about performance:
- She became the oldest Alpine skier ever to podium at a World Cup event.
- She claimed her first World Cup downhill victory in eight years at St. Moritz, extending her career total and making skiing history.
- She has been winning again during the 2025–26 season and is a member of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics (this will be her 5th Olympics).
- At 41, she’s redefining age, performance, and personal standards in her sport.
This isn’t nostalgia. This is impact — on the slopes, in the record books, and in the global conversation about what’s possible.
There’s so much powerful overlap here with the entrepreneurial mindset, business and leadership challenges we face every day in business:
- Diagnose, don’t band-aid.
Vonn could have kept skiing with braces and pain management. Instead, she addressed the root — structural issue. In business, surface fixes might keep quarterly results acceptable, but long-term success requires deep fixes to culture, systems, and strategy. - Reset your purpose on your own terms.
Vonn has said that her comeback isn’t about anyone else’s expectations — it’s about finishing her story the way she wants to. That’s leadership at its core…know your why and let it guide your decisions. - Leverage experience and don’t apologize for age…or anything else.
In Vonn’s world, being older — and having been through it all — is an asset (to her – most didn’t think it would be). She knows courses, conditions, risk management, and mental toughness. Businesses too often undervalue experience, but seasoned leaders bring perspective that can’t be taught in a classroom. - Success isn’t just winning.
Vonn didn’t just return. She stayed competitive. Growth in business isn’t about sudden wins — it’s about sustained relevance through change. - Narrative matters.
Vonn controls her story from injury and retirement, through renewal and purpose-driven comeback. In business, leaders who shape the narrative — internally and externally — build trust, inspire teams, and create momentum.
I’ve seen countless leaders wrestle with transitions — whether a shift in business model, culture change, or personal reinvention. Vonn’s journey highlights the combination of ruthless honesty, strategic renewal, and unwavering commitment needed to execute real transformation.
Her comeback isn’t a feel-good headline. It’s a playbook for resilience — and in business, resilience is what separates those who survive from those who thrive.
To Your Success –
