SUN VALLEY, Idaho — Lindsey Vonn concluded her recent adventure in Sun Valley with a noteworthy second-place finish but carried a heavy heart due to her beloved dog Lucy’s health issues. Her nine-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel has been diagnosed with kidney failure, prompting Vonn to hurry back to her home in Utah to focus on Lucy’s care.
“I’ve got to go figure it out,” Vonn said as she left the resort, acknowledging that she needed all the luck she could get.
At the age of 40, Vonn marked the end of her dramatic comeback season with a strong performance in the super-G event, securing a spot on the World Cup podium for the first time since March 2018. It was thanks to a partial knee replacement a year ago that Vonn was able to make this return, after having retired due to a serious knee injury. She had taken bronze in the downhill category at the world championships a year following that 2018 race, which was a significant moment in her career.
Vonn’s season was not without challenges, and she had looked forward to relaxing on the sandy beaches of the Bahamas. However, Lucy’s diagnosis upended those plans. The spaniel has been a constant companion in Vonn’s travels, joining her at training locations like Copper Mountain, Colorado, where she patiently waited in a comfortable bed for Vonn to conclude her sessions.
During this particular trip to Sun Valley, Vonn was accompanied by another cherished pet, her dog Leo, who was diagnosed with cancer last November but is reportedly doing well. “Leo’s doing really good,” Vonn shared. “He’s here, and he’s happy.”
Vonn’s emotional second-place finish was a poignant moment as she crossed the finish line with determination and grit, striking a chord from her past accomplishments. The moment felt comparable to her iconic downhill run during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, where she secured gold. Reflecting on both competitions brings tears to her eyes.
“I used every last ounce of energy that I had, and I tried to put everything together,” Vonn expressed. “It kind of felt, honestly, like the Olympics.”
Remarkably, Vonn concluded the season without significant pain, mainly free from the discomfort that has troubled her previously injured knee. Although her back is slightly sore, she considers it a normal aftereffect and remains ecstatic about returning to elite performance.
In achieving a World Cup podium spot at the age of 40, Vonn became the oldest female Alpine skier to do so — a milestone that filled her with pride and appreciation for her supporters throughout her journey. “It feels great,” she said. “I always knew I could do it. … I think a lot of people saw on Sunday what it meant to me. That I love the sport and I appreciate the fact that there’s so many people that have supported me along this journey.”
Looking ahead, Vonn intends to return to Europe for more thorough equipment testing, especially with the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics approaching. In November, she suddenly announced her return to the U.S. ski team without much preparation, but now she aims to train effectively with the necessary resources and time.
“Now I actually get to train and do (testing) in the correct way and the way it’s supposed to be done,” Vonn added. “One of the biggest reasons why I love ski racing is you have to perform when the stakes are highest. I am proud of myself that I was able to do it. That skill set I have has not gone away, and it gives me a lot of confidence for next year.”