Preparations for the Olympics underway with Vonn and Svindal
Lindsey Vonn, the American skiing legend, is gearing up for her comeback season, and she's not alone. She has enlisted the help of Aksel Lund Svindal, a former Norwegian ski racer and Olympic gold medallist, to join her team for the upcoming Olympic season.
Vonn's comeback season has been marked by highs and lows, but she has a new advantage this time around. Svindal, who won another Olympic title in the downhill eight years later, will take on the role of her lead ski coach. He will begin providing direct coaching with Vonn in the summer training camp in Chile, having offered remote support during her comeback season previously.
Svindal's contributions to Vonn's preparation are extensive. As her lead coach, he will take primary responsibility for her training and preparation, while Chris Knight remains part of her broader coaching team. Svindal's deep knowledge as a veteran champion skier will be instrumental in focusing on equipment tuning and race tactics, which Vonn and Svindal have developed over their years of shared experience.
The collaboration between Vonn and Svindal builds on a longstanding relationship and mutual trust from years of training and competition together. They have maintained a "wonderful friendship filled with great mutual respect" for a long time.
The World Cup season will kick off on October 25th and 26th in Austria's Sölden, and the Olympic Games will take place in Italy from February 6th to 22nd. For Vonn, these events will be the highlight of the winter, as she aims to secure more medals in the Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo during her final competitive season.
Vonn made a comeback last winter, competing with a partial knee prosthesis. Despite the challenges, she secured three top-ten results in the World Cup, including a second place in the Super-G in Sun Valley. Vonn expressed her excitement for the upcoming season on Instagram, stating that she can't wait to get back out there and compete.
Svindal, who is 40 years old, retired in 2019. However, he is returning to the skiing world to help Vonn in her quest for a fifth Olympic Games appearance. The Olympic Games in Italy will be a significant moment for both athletes, marking the end of Vonn's illustrious career and potentially a final chance for Svindal to rejoin the competitive scene.
Vonn won Olympic gold in the downhill event in 2010, and Svindal also won Olympic gold in the Super-G in 2010. Their shared history and mutual respect make them a formidable team, and fans are eager to see what they can achieve together in the upcoming season.
Svindal, with his extensive knowledge as a veteran champion skier, will be crucial in helping Vonn focus on equipment tuning and race tactics during her comeback season, as he takes on the role of her lead ski coach. As they collaborate, their shared history and mutual respect from years of training and competition together may lead to a formidable team and potentially more medals for Vonn in the upcoming Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
