SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

List: Five Super Comebacks

The driving forces are many and different. Some feel a sense of longing, others that they are not finished. Some need money. Lindsey Vonn is the latest in a line of high-profile sports stars making a comeback. Here are some other notable returns.

» Published: December 20 2024

List: Five Super Comebacks
Photo: Matt Slocum/AP/TT

+ Tiger Woods, golf

Golf, private life, body... almost everything in life had long been on a downward slope. The label as a has-been sat heavily on Woods when he, as a 43-year-old, came to Augusta and the Masters in 2019.

After four back operations, he was physically limited and no one counted on him.

Woods surprised an entire sports world when he once again got to wear the green jacket.

+ Ian Thorpe, swimming

The Australian was not called "The Torpedo" for nothing. He won a total of five Olympic Games gold medals in Sydney 2000 and in Athens 2004. In addition, he could add some silver and bronze and 13 World Championship gold medals.

Seven years later, he decided to aim for the Olympic Games 2012. The planned comeback came to nothing when he failed in the Olympic trials.

I knew that time would always be my enemy, said Thorpe.

+ Björn Borg, tennis

A few months before he would turn 27, Borg came in 1983 with the shocking news that he had had enough of tennis. He played a few tournaments before he completely retired.

No persuasion attempts helped, not even John McEnroe could get Borg to change his mind.

In 1991, Borg brought out his headband and his wooden racket again – a world sensation when it happened. In Monte Carlo, he lost in two straight sets to Jordi Arrese. In the first nine matches, Borg did not take a set.

Borg's comeback eventually became a parenthesis. At the Sports Gala in 2000, he was named the Swedish athlete of the century.

+ Simone Biles, gymnastics

The American withdrew from several events at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021 and cited mental health issues.

It wasn't until two years later that she competed at a high level again, and in Paris last summer, she solidified her position as one of the sport's all-time greatest. She added three Olympic Games gold medals to the four she took in Rio de Janeiro eight years earlier.

After all these years of mental work, it has paid off, said Biles.

+ Therese Johaug, cross-country skiing

The Norwegian said goodbye in the spring of 2022 – after four Olympic Games and 14 World Championship gold medals, as well as 82 World Cup victories – but the urge to compete again came back quickly.

Just over two years later, she is back, with her sights set on the World Championship on home soil in March.

It's just Trondheim, then I'm done, she says.

So far, the comeback has been successful. Of the five distance races that have been held in the World Cup, Johaug has won two and been on the podium in two more.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Swedish Team Captain Out Indefinitely

Swedish Team Captain Out Indefinitely

Teenager knocks out world number two

Teenager knocks out world number two

Ludvig Åberg eliminated: "Disappointed"

Ludvig Åberg eliminated: "Disappointed"

The Anger After the Final Loss: "Everyone Hates Luleå"

The Anger After the Final Loss: "Everyone Hates Luleå"

Advantage Modo in the Anxiety Qualification - Won the First Match

Advantage Modo in the Anxiety Qualification - Won the First Match

Olympic Athletes' Plea: "Take Care of Our Planet"

Olympic Athletes' Plea: "Take Care of Our Planet"

Multiple Exclamation Marks in Tuchel's First Squad

Multiple Exclamation Marks in Tuchel's First Squad

Thingnes Bø ill – skips World Cup weekend

Thingnes Bø ill – skips World Cup weekend

Lifetime Ban for Corruption-Convicted Boss

Lifetime Ban for Corruption-Convicted Boss

Guide: Everything You Need to Know Ahead of the F1 Season

Guide: Everything You Need to Know Ahead of the F1 Season

IFK Norrköping confirms – the club manager is leaving

IFK Norrköping confirms – the club manager is leaving

Shocked Möregårdh advances: "Nervous all the time"

Shocked Möregårdh advances: "Nervous all the time"

Stephen Curry makes history – first in NBA

Stephen Curry makes history – first in NBA

Melin's successful comeback: "Better than I thought"

Melin's successful comeback: "Better than I thought"

Bratt behind everything in the win

Bratt behind everything in the win

Växjö won despite the cold shower

Växjö won despite the cold shower

Malmö won the Skåne derby – despite tough injury

Malmö won the Skåne derby – despite tough injury

Duplantis will party – despite missing the world record

Duplantis will party – despite missing the world record

Djurgarden clear for quarterfinals in Conference League

Djurgarden clear for quarterfinals in Conference League

 Åberg under par – despite two double bogeys

Åberg under par – despite two double bogeys

New TV deal gives the Olympic Games billions

New TV deal gives the Olympic Games billions

SHL's Success - Breaks Audience Record

SHL's Success - Breaks Audience Record

Ponsiluoma on the podium: "I've fought for this"

Ponsiluoma on the podium: "I've fought for this"

Swedish Olympic Champion Undergoes Surgery – Misses World Championship

Swedish Olympic Champion Undergoes Surgery – Misses World Championship

Mbappé back in the French national team

Mbappé back in the French national team

The Scandal Grows – New Cheating Discovered

The Scandal Grows – New Cheating Discovered

New victory for the "Swedish" sensation

New victory for the "Swedish" sensation

Öberg on the podium – but missed the victory: "I'm annoyed"

Öberg on the podium – but missed the victory: "I'm annoyed"

This is the Swedish athletics team for the indoor World Championship

This is the Swedish athletics team for the indoor World Championship

Sponsor withdraws from Falsterbo: "Remove our name"

Sponsor withdraws from Falsterbo: "Remove our name"

After the Norwegian cheating scandal – the chairman resigns

After the Norwegian cheating scandal – the chairman resigns

"Criticism after penalty drama: 'Put up your hand'"

"Criticism after penalty drama: 'Put up your hand'"

Pettersson on fire as Vancouver turned the game around and won

Pettersson on fire as Vancouver turned the game around and won

The National Team to Hungary – in the Midst of Europe's Great Crisis

The National Team to Hungary – in the Midst of Europe's Great Crisis

Real Madrid advance after penalty drama in derby

Real Madrid advance after penalty drama in derby

This is how the quarterfinals are played in Hockeyallsvenskan

This is how the quarterfinals are played in Hockeyallsvenskan

Luleå Goalkeeper Knocked Out – Then Frölunda Won

Luleå Goalkeeper Knocked Out – Then Frölunda Won

Welcome victory for the national handball team

Welcome victory for the national handball team

The Masters are Written Off in the Gold Favorite Vote: "Understandable"

The Masters are Written Off in the Gold Favorite Vote: "Understandable"

Duplantis on the debut single: "Criticism in a different way"

Duplantis on the debut single: "Criticism in a different way"