Alpine Skiing news - Lindsey Vonn to retire after world championships in Sweden

ByEurosport

Updated 01/02/2019 at 20:56 GMT

Lindsey Vonn has announced that the Alpine World Ski Championship in Åre, Sweden, will be her last competition.

Lindsey Vonn of the U.S. kisses this year's overall Alpine Skiing World Cup trophy as she poses with her career's total collection of World Cup trophies at the season's finals in Garmisch-Partenkirchen March 13, 2010

Image credit: Reuters

The 34-year-old, who was named on the US ski team roster for the world championships on Wednesday, made her retirement announcement on her social media channels.

Vonn announces retirement from skiing

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"My body is screaming at me to STOP and it’s time for me to listen,” Vonn said in an emotional statement.

"At this point, arthritis is the least of my worries and I hope I can still ski with my kids some day.

But even knowing what lies ahead for my body, it has still been worth it. I have always worked hard, fought back and dealt with whatever comes my way because I simply love skiing.

"At no point have I ever regretted my injuries, my comebacks, the therapy, the preparation and even the pain because in my mind it has always been worth it."

Vonn, who has 82 World Cup wins and a 2010 Olympic downhill gold, had said this month that she might have to hang up her skis before the championships in Are but those fears were initially calmed after her inclusion in the squad for the world championships.

She has been plagued by knee injuries throughout her career and complained of intense pain after a super-G in Cortina d'Ampezzo on January 20.

Lindsey Vonn breaks down in tears during Cortina tribute

She later explained on Instagram that the latest pain was caused by a nerve injury, possibly caused by a training run jump, that got progressively worse over the weekend until her muscles had shut down.

"I know that I might not get the ending to my career that I had hoped for, but if there is a chance, I will take it," she said then

Considered the greatest female skier, Vonn had previously suggested she might compete until December so she could race again in the Canadian resort of Lake Louise, her most successful tour stop, after an injury denied her the opportunity to do so in 2018.

Vonn, whose tally of World Cup wins trails only Swede Ingemar Stenmark's record haul of 86, said she was more upset about not achieving goals than retirement itself, but would look back with pride on what she had done.

Lindsey Vonn of USA talks to Ingemar Stenmark of Sweden during a media talk at Hotel Waldhaus am See on February 13, 2017 in St Moritz, Switzerland

Image credit: Getty Images

"I can look back at 82 World Cup wins, 20 World Cup titles, three Olympic medals, seven World Championship medals and say that I have accomplished something that no other woman in history has ever done," she said.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and Chief Executive Tiger Shaw thanked Vonn in a statement for consistently raising the bar, providing the sport with some of its greatest memories and creating a legacy he said will live forever.

"Lindsey Vonn will be celebrated as not only the greatest US female skier of all time, but as an athlete who has inspired people around the world, both in and out of the sport of ski racing, for many years,” said Shaw.

We have been so lucky to have been able to share many of Lindsey’s extraordinary achievements, but now the time is right for Lindsey to call time on her incredible career.

The world championships start on February 5 and end on February 17.