Lindsey Vonn plans to return from injury to pursue the title of all-time winningest skier as early as this January, according to her coach. U.S. Ski Team coach Paul Kristofic spilled the beans to AP reporters at this weekend’s FIS events in Val Gardena, Italy, reports New Hampshire’s Valley News.
Conversations on chair lifts and shop benches speculated that Vonn’s return may be delayed until the FIS circuit returned to one of her favorite courses, like Lake Louise, the following season.
But it appears her return is far more imminent than that, according to Kristofic.
“She’s just doing rehab and strength and conditioning,” Kristofic said, adding that there is no precise date set for her return to ski training. “It really depends on how things go when she’s not on snow. It’s sort of day by day,” he told the AP.
MEDIA ALERT‼️@lindseyvonn asked Santa to get rid of her crutches for Christmas and he is granting her wish. She’s got the green light to return to @fisalpine action in January! More on her Instagram. 🎅✅👏
— U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team (@usskiteam) December 17, 2018
Prior to her latest injury, Vonn had announced plans to retire from professional skiing following the 2018-2019 World Cup season, regardless of whether she’d surpassed Ingemar Stenmark’s win record by that time or not.
As Valley News reports, the timing of her return could be especially auspicious for Vonn’s title dreams. Three consecutive weekends of super-G and slalom events, Vonn’s specialties, are on the docket for January.
As far as a big finish to the season?
“Kristofic said Vonn is also expected to compete in one more final major event — the world championships in Are, Sweden, in February.”