Her selection should therefore not be interpreted as an announcement of another rapid comeback. Vonn met the sporting criteria for A-team status through her performances and will officially remain part of the squad during her rehabilitation. Whether she will ever return to racing remains uncertain.
A long road back after the horror crash
Vonn had shown during her comeback season that even beyond the age of 40 she was still capable of competing with the very best in the world. Before the Olympic Games, she was even leading the World Cup downhill standings.
Then came a dramatic series of injuries. At the end of January, Vonn tore the ACL in her left knee in a crash in Crans-Montana. Despite that setback, she decided to compete at the Olympics in Cortina.
Just 13 seconds into the Olympic downhill, she crashed heavily and suffered a complex fracture of her left tibia. The injury was so serious that, at one stage, amputation of the leg was even discussed as a possibility. Several operations were required.
In August, Vonn revealed that another operation on her ACL was still necessary. She expects around nine additional months of rehabilitation afterwards.
“I don’t really know what the future holds. I’m just grateful for where I am right now,” the American said. She had already made it clear that she would now also accept the possibility of retiring for good.
A return to racing would not be realistic before the 2027/28 season at the earliest.
Shiffrin once again the woman to beat
The women’s World Cup will therefore begin without Vonn. Her compatriot Mikaela Shiffrin remains the most prominent favourite. The 31-year-old won both the overall World Cup and the slalom title last winter and will also be looking to challenge more strongly again in giant slalom.
In slalom, Shiffrin’s main rivals are expected to include Swiss stars Camille Rast and Wendy Holdener, as well as Paula Moltzan, Katharina Truppe and Emma Aicher.
In giant slalom, however, Austria currently holds the number one position. Julia Scheib won her first small Crystal Globe in 2025/26 and enters the new season as the defending discipline champion. Camille Rast, Sara Hector, Alice Robinson and Shiffrin are among her most prominent challengers.
Goggia and Pirovano in focus in the speed events
The downhill field looks particularly open without Vonn. Laura Pirovano won last season’s discipline standings ahead of the versatile German Emma Aicher. Olympic champion Breezy Johnson, Kira Weidle-Winkelmann and Sofia Goggia are also capable of fighting for victories on a regular basis.
In the super-G, Goggia is one of the main names to beat. The Italian won last season’s World Cup standings ahead of Alice Robinson and Aicher. Her preparation has not been completely smooth, however, because of health problems.
Federica Brignone, who sensationally won Olympic gold in both super-G and giant slalom, will also miss the start of the season. Following another operation, the Italian will not be available for Sölden or the opening races in North America.
Austria and Switzerland with several contenders
Austria’s main hope is Scheib in giant slalom. In slalom, Karin Truppe showed with fourth place in last season’s final standings that she is capable of regularly challenging for podium finishes. In the speed disciplines, Cornelia Hütter, Nina Ortlieb, Mirjam Puchner and Ariane Rädler remain important names.
For Switzerland, the balance of power is shifting following Lara Gut-Behrami’s retirement. Rast is among the strongest skiers in the world in both slalom and giant slalom, while Holdener remains a major threat in slalom. In the speed events, hopes rest among others on Corinne Suter and the emerging Malorie Blanc.
And above all these sporting questions, Lindsey Vonn’s name still remains. The fact that she continues to be listed on the US A team despite her severe injuries at least keeps a small door open. Whether she will actually walk through it again will not become clear until next year at the earliest.
