In what can only be described as a storybook ending, Lindsey Vonn—the most decorated female alpine skier in history—capped off her legendary career with a bronze medal in the downhill at the 2019 World Ski Championships in Åre, Sweden. It was a fitting finale for an athlete who has inspired generations with her resilience, speed, and undying passion for the sport.
Vonn’s final appearance on the world stage was filled with emotion and determination. Racing through pain and past injuries, she defied the odds to step onto the podium one last time. The bronze medal marked her eighth World Championship medal and her fifth in the downhill discipline. Remarkably, it also made her the oldest woman ever to win a medal at a World Championships—yet another milestone in a career defined by rewriting the record books.
There was a special symmetry to Vonn’s farewell. Åre had long been a significant venue in her journey. It was there that she captured her first FIS World Championship medals in 2007, finishing second in both speed events. More than a decade later, she returned to that very mountain to close her career, still competing at an elite level despite years of physical toll.
Lindsey’s journey to the bronze was anything but easy. A crash during training at Copper Mountain the previous year left her struggling with a serious knee injury. Her performances earlier in the season, particularly in Cortina d’Ampezzo, were hampered by ongoing pain and limitations in training. Many wondered if she would even make it to the starting gate in Åre. But in true Vonn fashion, she refused to back down.
“This is a wonderful way to leave the scene,” Vonn said after her run, her voice filled with emotion. “I was so happy that many people from my family could come, as well as Ingemar [Stenmark], who brought me that nice bouquet of flowers in the finish area.” The moment was symbolic and emotional—an athlete who had given everything to her sport surrounded by the people and memories that shaped her career.
“I raced one last time with all my heart and my love for skiing,” she added. “I wanted to leave on a high note, and I made the best of my actual potential. I’ll for sure strongly miss that feeling—to move at high speed over a nice snow field.”
Indeed, for Vonn and her global fanbase, this bronze medal felt like gold. It was more than a result; it was a celebration of a career defined by courage, grit, and sheer excellence. While the skiing world says goodbye to one of its brightest stars, the legacy Lindsey Vonn leaves behind will continue to inspire athletes and fans for generations to come.