The United States Ski and Snowboard team dropped the 49 names for their 2026-27 Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team earlier this week, and holy moly, Lindsey Vonn is on it. This is wild because just eight months ago, the Olympic legend suffered a career-threatening crash that had everyone wondering if we’d ever see her compete again.
From Olympic Disaster to US Team Roster
Vonn making the team isn’t some honorary spot either, she earned it based on existing alpine criteria, still sitting pretty in the top 25 of the FIS World Cup Start List. Talk about grit, right? We’re talking about a complex tibia fracture she picked up 13 seconds into her run during the women’s downhill final at the 2026 Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Brutal.
Borgen Family Alpine Director Sasha Rearick hyped up the team, calling them a “very determined and impressive group of alpine athletes who are fully prepared to compete at the highest level as we head into a World Championship season.” You can bet Vonn fits that description perfectly. Her commitment in summer training and on the snow has apparently “set the stage for what promises to be an exciting season.”
Birthday Buzz and Future Uncharted
Soon after the team announcement, Vonn hit up social media to wrap up summer and drop a little hint about her upcoming 42nd birthday on October 18. She posted a summer photo dump, captioning it, “I guess this means summer is over….but it also means my birthday is coming up soon.” Those pics showed her busting her tail recovering from that gnarly injury.
Oh, and she casually revealed her new boyfriend, French alpine skier Matthieu Bailet. He even commented on her post, joking about the “pressure” of picking out her birthday gift. Here’s the kicker, though: even with her name on the team roster, Vonn still hasn’t made any official announcement about a comeback or if she’s hanging up her skis for good.
So, yeah, Vonn’s back on the roster for what promises to be an exciting World Championship season. But with her 42nd birthday right around the corner and her future plans still up in the air, everyone’s on the edge of their seats. What’s next for one of the greatest? We’re all waiting.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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