What happens when the current top star meets the all-time great? Things are bound to get heated. And that’s exactly what the fans hoped for with the recent return of Lindsey Vonn to Team USA. Many expected her to form the dream with Mikaela Shiffrin to take over the 2025 Alpine Skiing World Cup but such dreams didn’t work out. And Lindsey was perhaps the one most disappointed by it.
Lindsey has made it clear that she is not only going hand in hand with her teammates. No, she mentioned, “I get along great with every single member of my team and I would be proud to race with anyone.” Of course, the world champion is also going to enjoy the event, given it’s the first time for the 40-year-old. “It’s fun to be a part of a team; I’ve never had that experience in a world championship or Olympics before,” Vonn said.
It is also the best there could be for Vonn, as her beloved individual event is not there anymore. She further added, “I’ve always loved the combined as an individual (event). They don’t have that anymore. So this is my next best option.” Years ago, when Vonn was winding up her career, Mikaela had just begun hers.
Today, Mikaela stands at the peak of the snowy mountains with 99 World Cup victories, and Vonn is just a little behind, with 82. Vonn still leads the chart for the World Cup downhill victories though with 43 wins. Meanwhile, Shiffrin has the most shalom victories to her name (62). A team of these two would have been the Batman and Superman of snowboarding, but sadly it didn’t.
Not that Mikaela is at fault since it’s the U.S. team’s coaching staff that decides the pairs based on “season-best results” in both downhill and slalom. Vonn, like the rest of us, was disappointed at the missed opportunity. The skiing legend announced her return to the snow in November 2024, after retiring in 2019. Ever since then, she has gone on to bring nostalgia with every glide, and even though there are negative voices that are making a lot of noise, the roar of positive ones has kept Lindsey going.
Positives for Lindsey Vonn, as the skiing legend calls her Inspiring
What were you doing when you were 40 or what will you be doing when you are 40? Retirement? Investment? Europe trip? Whatever it is, I bet it’s not making a comeback to a sport. Lindsey Vonn has done exactly that and though the comeback has been cold like the snow she races on, you have to give to the 40-year-old.
Praise has come for her from different legends of the sport. This includes the eight-time overall champion Marcel Hirscher, who also made a comeback this season at age 35 but injured his left knee in December and is now on rest. Bashing hate critics, the world champion has called Von inspiring. Addressing the critics, he said, “It is very unfair. I can’t understand those messages. Because for me, it is just inspiring.”
Vonn’s former competitor and retired British racer turned BBC skiing commentator Chemmy Alcott has also supported her, calling the results irrelevant. She has that love, that respect for Vonn’s spirit to do it for the sport. “For me, it’s actually irrelevant the results. Just to see her come down with a smile on her face and to be loving it and to be doing it for the sport—because our sport needs these icons. I think is incredible.”
Lindsey’s best result came when she finished 15th in the world championships. Her fans are excited to witness her at the next big event, which could be the Milano Cortina 2026. But there’s a year to it and we will be seeing the legend warming at the events throughout the year. What do you think… is Vonn winning her 4th Olympic medal in 2026?
The post Missing Chance to Team Alongside Mikaela Shiffrin, Lindsey Vonn Drops Honest Thoughts Over Future Teammates appeared first on EssentiallySports.
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