Lindsey Vonn says she may retire: 'Now it's time to listen to my body and it's time to say goodbye'
Despite mounting injuries and younger skiers nipping at her heels, Lindsey Vonn has continued to resist retiring from the sport she loves. But after failing to finish higher than ninth in several races over the weekend (and failing to finish one entire race), Vonn is closer than ever to calling it a career and hanging up her skis and poles for good.
Vonn spoke to reporters after she couldn’t finish the World Cup super-G at Cortina D’Ampezzo, Italy, and said it’s “a possibility” that she could retire immediately. Via the Associated Press:
“But I’m emotional right now,” Vonn quickly added. “I have to really think clearly about that. It’s not a decision I make lightly or quickly.”
Her placement in the races isn’t why she’s considering immediate retirement. It’s why she placed so low to begin with. Vonn has dealt with knee injuries throughout her career, and is currently dealing with a sprained ligament in her left knee that’s been mending since November. Her right knee has been surgically repaired numerous times, and with braces on both knees, she’s having issues generating the power and speed she needs to be truly competitive on the slopes.
“I’ve had four surgeries on my right knee. I’ve got no LCL (lateral collateral ligament) on my left knee. I’ve got two braces on. There’s only so much I can handle and I might have reached my maximum,” Vonn said. “I’m not sure. I’ve got to take a couple days’ time and really think about things.”
Vonn has yet to make any official decisions, but told Swiss TV (via the Associated Press) that “now it’s time to listen to my body and it’s time to say goodbye.”
Over her career, Vonn has racked up 82 total wins. She needs just five more wins to break Ingemar Stenmark’s all-time wins record. Reaching that mark has been a goal for Vonn, but her injuries mean that she will almost certainly retire short of that goal.
Leaving the sport due to injuries isn’t the way Vonn wanted to go out. But her drive and will to compete and be the best are no longer enough — her body is calling the shots.
“It’s positive but I’m not able to ski the way I want to – the way I know I can,” she said. “I’m just really inhibited with my body. My body is inhibiting me from doing what I want to do.”
A spokesperson from the U.S. Ski Team told the Associated Press that Vonn will take the next few days to process everything before deciding how she wants to move forward.
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