CNN
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In an exclusive interview with CNN Sports, American skier Lindsay Von said she proved herself and her suspicions after winning her first podium since she left retirement.
The 40-year-old came second in the Super-G in the World Cup final in March and became the oldest female alpine skier to take the podium in the World Cup race for the first time in six years.
On March 15th, 2018, Bonn finished third in the Swedish Super G for the first World Cup podium.
Vonn retired from skiing in February 2019, but last year announced that he would return to sports after successfully completing his knee in April 2024.
It’s fair to say that even Vonn didn’t think she would return to this level of skiing.
“I wouldn’t have expected to come back here,” she said at the recent Laureus World Sports Awards held in Madrid. “I mean, the last time I saw you, I was emotional because I was finishing my career.
“That was the end. I love skiing and it’s always been my passion since I was a kid, but my body no longer cooperated, so I definitely hope it wasn’t over.
“Thankfully, this partial knee replacement means we’re lucky to have another chance now, and hopefully next year’s Olympics.”
Stepping onto that podium was the slide when Vonn returned to a sport he still loved.
She admitted she had doubts in her mind about her decision to make a comeback during the brutal season. Vonn said he was 20 pounds cheaper than his previous competitive weight and not “as strong as I used to,” and he had to deal with new equipment, coaches and trainers.
Sometimes Bonn feels “insurmountable” the challenges posed at her, and says that it is “hard to quantify.”
“I think it changes everything,” she explained to CNN. “I think there are a lot of people who thought I would never come back and never succeeded again. And I think I’d still deserve to be here, and whether I’ll turn 41 at the next Olympics or not.
“I cried. (The podium) is probably the hardest I’ve ever cried after the race.
“I didn’t have that many different variables in one season, and every weekend it felt like it was new and some new challenges were thrown into me. And sometimes I did this because I was doing this because I love ski racing, but it felt like it was difficult to find a motive, but it felt like it was modest.”
Even after years of distant from the sport, Bonn said his comeback still “feels exactly the same.” Her vast experience and track knowledge explains to CNN Sports and helps level the playing field against “half of my age” of competitors who enjoy physical benefits over Quadragenarian skiers.
Initially, Bonn didn’t ski to “prove anything to anyone,” but that changed when he heard “so many negative voices from my peers” during the season.
“It really hurt me and I knew I could do it myself in the end, but I wanted to prove that every 40-year-old woman knows we don’t define as age,” Vonn said.
“We are defined by our abilities and work ethics, and I worked hard to get back to where I worked as hard as I could, so I felt that we needed to do that to prove to women that we could.
“I love the sport. I hope nothing changes. No matter what I do, it doesn’t change. Since I started racing at age 7, that’s always something I feel the most alive.”
