Lindsey Vonn’s comeback season has ended on a bittersweet note. The ski legend finished with a historic second-place finish in a World Cup super-G race, becoming the oldest female Alpine ski racer to earn a World Cup podium spot by nearly six years. However, her celebration is tempered by the heartbreaking news that her beloved dog, Lucy, has failing kidneys.
Lucy, a 9-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel, has been Vonn’s loyal travel companion and has even accompanied her to the Olympics. Vonn admitted that the prognosis isn’t good and that she needs to spend time with Lucy, changing her plans to relax on the beaches of the Bahamas.
“I’ve got to go figure it out… I need all the luck I can get,” said Vonn, who has two other dogs, Leo and Jade.
Vonn’s other dog, Leo, had been diagnosed with cancer in November, but fortunately, he has since “graduated from chemo treatment”. Vonn’s love for her dogs is evident, and she’s grateful for the time she has with them.
As Vonn looks to the future, she plans to head back to Europe for equipment testing ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. Despite the challenges she’s faced, Vonn remains optimistic and proud of her accomplishments, saying, “That skill set I have has not gone away, and it gives me a lot of confidence for next year.”
Vonn finished her season with no real aches and pains, especially not in her right knee that now contains titanium. Her back, though, is a little sore, ‘but that’s normal,’ Vonn said. She’s still trying to take it all in — that she did, indeed, make it back to the podium this season.
“It feels great,” Vonn said. “I always knew that 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.”
Vonn’s historic comeback season may be over, but her legacy continues to inspire, and her love for her family, both human and furry, remains unwavering.
