New York (USA) - The rumors have been persistent for months, she laughed about them for a while, but now the sensational comeback in winter sports is perfect: Alpineskiing star Lindsey Vonn (40) is actually returning to the World Cup circuit.

As the New York Times reports, the former glamor girl of alpine skiing will officially be part of the US team again from Friday.

"Fantastic and definitely not planned. I'm trying not to take on too much because I still have some hurdles to clear," Vonn herself told the paper. Vonn is the Olympic champion from Vancouver 2020, where she won gold in the downhill and twice finished in bronze.

A full 24 years after her World Cup debut, she is now making a completely surprising comeback, which is particularly astonishing given that Vonn's body is severely scarred from all those years of competitive sport.

She tore the cruciate ligaments in both of her knees countless times and even broke the joint. In spring 2024, she even had to have an artificial knee joint implanted. Vonn had originally retired from the World Cup circuit in February 2019.

Over the years, Vonn has lent her sport a certain glamor.

But it wasn't always all sunshine and roses. The duels with her real-life friend Maria Riesch (39) were particularly heated and explosive. Their friendship was even put to the test by the competition for a while before the two eventually reconciled.

In her private life, Vonn made headlines mainly due to her relationship with golf superstar Tiger Woods (48). The two were together from 2012 to 2015.

After the return of Marcel Hirscher (35), Vonn's return is already the second sensational comeback in skiing this season.

It is still unclear when the US American will officially race down the slopes again for the first time. However, it could be as early as December.