When Lindsey Vonn returned to skiing last year after spending five years on the sidelines, many questioned the seriousness of her comeback. After all, it isn’t unusual to see a legendary athlete un-retire only to realize the sport had moved forward considerably in their absence. Vonn is not one of them. Instead, she’s as competitive and fierce as ever.

At 41, Vonn made a spectacular return to the winner’s circle. After crushing the women’s downhill at the FIS World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland, the 2010 Olympic champion checked out the results board, let out a joyful scream, and celebrated by doing basketball superstar Stephen Curry’s famous “night-night” gesture, which signals to competitors it’s game over.

According to Olympics.com, she said, “It felt so good. I don’t have to drive at the limit, and I’m still fast and driving cleanly.” As she aims for her fifth Olympic appearance at the Milano Cortina Games, this victory has positioned her as a favorite for the downhill – the event she took home gold in over fifteen years ago in Vancouver 2010.

Vonn nailed it out on the slopes, finishing the Corviglia course with a winning time of 1:29.63. She was almost a full second ahead of her closest competitor, Austria’s Magdalena Egger, by 0.98 seconds to be precise.

This incredible margin is pretty rare in elite downhill racing and also marked her first win post comeback. It was also her 83rd career World Cup victory and her first one since March 2018, breaking a long drought of seven years, eight months, and 28 days.

If that wasn’t enough, at 41, she made history by becoming the oldest alpine skier to win a World Cup race, regardless of gender. She’s got reasons for making this late-career comeback that go beyond just wanting to achieve something for herself.

In interviews, Vonn has talked about her return as part of a bigger conversation on how athletes can stay strong over the years, mentioning other top athletes who have pushed back against the usual age expectations.

Other athletes who are showing age is just a number, alongside Lindsey Vonn

Whenever people ask about her competing at her age, Lindsey Vonn often brings up Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champ who snagged a title at 43, and Lewis Hamilton, the Formula One legend who’s still a powerhouse in his 40s.

“I think this comeback is really just about me having a second chance at doing something that I love. But I also realize that the message is much bigger than just myself. I will be 41 when the Olympics come around, and I already had the record for the oldest Alpine Olympic medalist at 33. [Tom] Brady can do it. Lewis Hamilton can do it. I can do it. Anyone can do it,” she shared her thoughts in a social media video.

On the other hand, Hamilton’s been snagging podium finishes and even winning races, all while being 40 years old. This F1 season has been a bit rough for the Brit, but he’s managed to push through the challenges.

The racing circuit is always changing, and there are plenty of talented rookies out there who could easily take the spot of anyone who’s just a few hundredths of a second slower. The Scuderia Ferrari driver still delivering great output is an achievement in and of itself.

Vonn didn’t just namedrop Hamilton; the two are close friends. After her podium finish at the World Cup in March 2025, Hamilton took to his Instagram Story to share the exciting moment, saying, “Epic!! Knew you could do it and am so proud of you 🙌.”

With the clocks ticking towards Italy, Lindsey Vonn’s comeback story is shaping up to be this Olympics’ most exciting and intriguing one.