The comeback rumor surrounding Lindsey Vonn is heating up tempers in the ski circuit. While the former downhill queen is determined, former colleagues warn of the risks of returning to the slopes. Sharp criticism comes from ÖSV legend Franz Bracket.
Lindsey Vonn, the most successful ski racer of all time with 82 Wetlcup victories behind Mikaela Shiffrin (97), is apparently thinking about returning to the World Cup. The 39-year-old American, who ended her successful career in 2019, recently caused a stir with a training video. But their comeback plans are met with skepticism and criticism.
Image: AFP/Betancour
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Image: AFP/Betancour
One of the loudest critics is Austria’s Olympic downhill champion Franz Bracket. The 70-year-old expressed his clear opposition to Vonn’s return in the TV format “Blickpunkt Sport”: “If she really does that, she’ll have a complete shot!” For Klemm, the physical demands of downhill skiing, a discipline in which Vonn has enjoyed numerous successes, are difficult to cope with at an advanced age and after several operations.
Felix Neureuther also shows little understanding for Vonn’s plans. He points out the big differences between technical disciplines such as slalom, in which a return is more conceivable, and the speed disciplines of downhill and super-G. “With the high speeds and an artificial knee joint, it’s tough,” emphasized the 40-year-old. For Neureuther, the risk of injury is too high for Vonn, who has a history of previous injuries. That’s why her comeback cannot be compared with that of Marcel Hirscher.
Despite the concerns, Vonn remains determined. In a recently published training video, she confidently comments on her plans: “The quickest way to find out if something works is to try it out.” Her words suggest that she is willing to take the risk and make a comeback, regardless of the voices that advise her not to.
It remains to be seen whether the 82-time World Cup winner will actually return to the big stage of skiing. One thing is certain, however: Vonn’s comeback would cause a stir in the World Cup – even if not everyone supports it.