This weekend, the former alpine speed queen Lindsey Vonn is making a comeback in the World Cup, as she will compete in two super-G races in St. Moritz. This is six years after she retired and after having had a titanium half-knee implanted in April this year.
This has been met with sharp criticism from old alpine stars.
"Vonn needs a psychologist. Does she want to die?", Michaela Dorfmeister said, and Franz Klammer said "has she gone completely crazy".
Pernilla Wiberg thought "oh, it can never work" when she heard about Vonn's plans, but after seeing Vonn ski as a forerunner in Beaver Creek's difficult downhill, she has changed her opinion.
I'm incredibly impressed by her skiing. The way she took on the slope, if she hadn't been physically prepared, it would never have worked and it wouldn't have looked like it did, says Wiberg.
Fear of crashes
The former Swedish alpine star, now an expert commentator on SVT, is still worried about the American's health.
She won a lot, but she also crashed a lot because she always pushed the limits, says Wiberg.
The fact that Vonn has a 40-year-old body also means that there is a fear that the comeback will be short-lived. A while ago, Marcel Hirscher made a comeback after five years, but tore his cruciate ligament after just three slalom and giant slalom races.
That's what Lindsey has to fight against, but I think super-G and downhill are "easier" than slalom and giant slalom, because you can adapt more, Wiberg means.
Better skier now
Lindsey Vonn's coach Chris Knight says to AP that Vonn is a better skier now than when she retired. Pernilla Wiberg also believes that the comeback can be successful.
Yes, I think so. Downhill is her biggest chance. But it won't happen overnight, you have to give her some time.
One of the doubters of Vonn's comeback is Pirmin Zurbriggen, who thinks that Vonn may have problems with not being a celebrated star anymore. Wiberg, however, defends Vonn's decision.
I've understood that for her, skiing is important, she may not have found anything else in life that she thinks is as fun, and you should have understanding for that, says Pernilla Wiberg.
She's seen others do the same, like Tiger Woods, who is her former boyfriend.
