✨ Skiing Legend Embraces Singlehood and Pain-Free Return to the Slopes
Lindsey Vonn, the former Olympic champion and one of the most celebrated figures in Alpine ski racing, is embarking on a bold new chapter that is equally defined by a surgical miracle and a change in her personal life. Six years after retiring due to chronic pain, the 40-year-old is now performing at an elite level, crediting her successful comeback to a partial knee replacement utilizing a titanium implant.
Vonn’s dramatic return saw her place an impressive 4th and 6th in recent races at the Alpine Ski Championships in Austria, stunning the FIS World Cup community. Her ability to compete at the highest level years after announcing her retirement has solidified her status as a “bionic woman” in the sport.
The End of Pain: A Life-Altering Surgical Procedure
For years, Vonn’s career was a testament to perseverance, but also a battle against relentless chronic pain stemming from multiple past injuries, including a horrific 2013 crash that caused severe cartilage damage and ligament tears.
“I was in so much pain,” the 82-time World Cup winner revealed to PEOPLE magazine, describing a point where the pain was so debilitating she could barely ski recreationally, let alone tackle a demanding downhill course.
The turning point was the partial knee replacement surgery she underwent in 2024. Using robotic-assisted technology (MAKO), orthopedic surgeons precisely resurfaced the most damaged parts of her knee with titanium alloys. This advanced procedure, known as a unicompartmental arthroplasty, preserved the healthy bone and crucial ligaments like the ACL and PCL.
Vonn credits the surgery with entirely transforming her quality of life: “The partial knee replacement changed my life. Not only did it take my pain away, but it allowed me to go back to what I love to do, which is skiing.” This pain-free status allows her to focus purely on performance, a luxury she hasn’t had since the early stages of her career.
Embracing a New Lease on Life and Singlehood
Vonn’s return to the U.S. Ski Team for the 2024-2025 season is not the only significant change in her life. The 40-year-old confirms she is now single after splitting with longtime boyfriend, entrepreneur Diego Osorio.
While juggling an elite sports comeback with personal life transitions can be challenging, Vonn is embracing this new phase with her trademark resilience. Having recently ended her relationship with Osorio, the skiing legend is focused on her passions and her professional ventures. She recently commented that she would be spending Valentine’s Day with her dogs, highlighting her commitment to self-focus and her core support system.
Vonn’s story is now one of profound transformation: overcoming physical agony via cutting-edge medical technology and confidently stepping into a new era of personal independence. Her comeback is far more than an athletic endeavor; it is a powerful statement about resilience, science, and finding joy in life’s most fundamental passions, paving the way for a potential run at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.