Featured Image: Lindsey Vonn night run on the Kitzbühel Streif: GEPA pictures
“I Feel Sorry for Lindsey”
Lindsey Vonn’s bold decision to return to competitive ski racing at 40 has ignited various opinions. After Swiss legends Sonja Nef and Bruno Kernen shared their concerns about her comeback in an interview with Blick.ch, Vonn responded on X, formerly Twitter. “Very kind words, Sonja and Bruno. I will not forget them.” Her response piqued our interest, prompting a closer look at the skepticism voiced by her peers.
At 40 years old and with an artificial knee, Vonn has announced her intention to return to competitive ski racing. She aims for top results on the World Cup circuit and a shot at the 2026 Olympics. While her ambition inspires some, Nef and Kernen are concerned about the physical risks and question whether Vonn can realistically achieve her goals.
Like Vonn, Nef and Kernen are former World Champions who now live with artificial knee joints. In an interview with Blick.ch, they admired Vonn’s accomplishments but urged caution about the dangers of a comeback.
“At 40, You Can’t Go Full Throttle”
Sonja Nef, the 2001 giant slalom World Champion, doubts that Vonn can compete with today’s best skiers. “Impossible. At 40, you can’t go full throttle like that, especially not with an artificial knee joint,” Nef told Blick.ch.
Nef acknowledged the toll that years of elite competition took on her body and shared her disbelief when hearing about Vonn’s comeback plans. “When I first heard the rumors, I thought, she can’t be that stupid. But she is—unfortunately.”
For Nef, the risks outweigh the rewards. “Lindsey is a grande dame of the sport, but for me, she can only lose with this comeback. It feels like she’s jeopardizing her legacy.”
“I Don’t See Her on the Podium”
Bruno Kernen, the 1997 downhill World Champion, also expressed skepticism about Vonn’s ability to return to the top of the sport. “She might make it into the top 10 here and there, depending on the terrain and snow conditions,” he said. “But I don’t see her on the podium in the World Cup.”
Kernen, who won the iconic Lauberhorn downhill in Wengen in 2003, emphasized the challenges Vonn will face after a five-year absence from competition. “After that much time away, she’ll need to take many risks even to be competitive. And when you push yourself to the limit, you risk going over it.”
Risks of a Prosthetic Knee
Nef and Kernen spoke candidly about living with artificial knees, emphasizing the need to avoid additional injuries. Nef shared a warning from her doctor: “If I fell violently and something broke in my knee, it might not be repairable. I could end up needing a stiffened joint permanently.”
Kernen, who continues to enjoy recreational sports, echoed this sentiment. “My knee allows me to stay active, but I know my limits. Lindsey is taking an enormous gamble with her health.”
“Does She Need the Spotlight?”
Nef and Kernen also reflected on Vonn’s possible motivations for returning. Nef suggested that Vonn might struggle with life outside the ski spotlight. “I would guess Lindsey doesn’t cope in normal life, where she isn’t the center of attention. That’s why I feel sorry for her.”
Kernen acknowledged the allure of competition but stressed the importance of moving on after retirement. Now, the managing director of the ski wax company Toko, Kernen, explained, “It took me a while to find satisfaction outside of skiing, but I never considered a comeback.”
A High-Stakes Gamble
Despite the warnings, Vonn remains focused on her goal. With 82 career victories and her sights set on the 2026 Olympics, she continues to prepare for a return to the World Cup circuit.
However, as Nef put it, the risks are clear. “She has a knee made of metal. Period. No surgeon would say this is a good idea.”
The months ahead will reveal whether Vonn’s gamble leads to glory—or a setback. Ski Racing Media reminds us never to underestimate a champion—think of George Foreman. Following what he called a born-again experience, George Foreman became an ordained Christian minister. Ten years later, at 45, he returned to the ring and won the unified WBA, IBF, and lineal heavyweight titles by knocking out 26-year-old Michael Moorer in 1994.
This article draws on interviews and insights originally published by Blick.ch.
About the Author: SR Staff Report
