Vonn Rejects Retirement Talk After Olympic Injury

Lindsey Vonn, the 41-year-old American alpine skiing star, pushed back against speculation about her retirement on Sunday, emphasizing that she alone will determine her future in the sport following a severe leg injury at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy.

In a post on X, Vonn stated she is not ready to discuss her plans. "My focus has been on recovering from my injury and getting back to normal life," she wrote. "I was already retired for 6 years and have an amazing life outside of skiing. It was incredible to be 1 in the world again at 41 years old and set new records in my sport, but at my age, I'm the only one that will decide my future." She added, "I don't need anyone's permission to do what makes me happy. Maybe that means racing again, maybe that doesn't. Only time will tell. Please stop telling me what I should or should not do. I'll let you know when I decide."

The statement came five weeks after Vonn's crash on February 8 during the women's downhill event. Just 13 seconds into her run, she clipped a gate with her right shoulder, lost control at high speed, and tumbled down the slope, landing awkwardly on her back. The impact caused a complex fracture of...