Lindsey Vonn Targeting January Return to Racing

Lindsey Vonn is hoping to return from injury next month and resume her pursuit of the all-time World Cup wins record, according to the U.S. Ski Team’s head coach, reports ABC.

“That’s what we’re hopeful for. That’s the plan,” Paul Kristofic told The Associated Press on Sunday.

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Vonn hyperextended and sprained a ligament in her knee during a training crash on Nov. 19, and also suffered a bone bruise in the crash, in which she fell on a turn, did the splits and went into the protective fence. January would be the perfect time for Vonn to return since there are three consecutive weekends of speed races, downhill, and super-G — which are Vonn’s strongest disciplines.

The series begins Jan. 12-13 in St. Anton, Austria, followed by stops in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. A win or two in that stretch would move Vonn, currently with 82 wins, closer to the mark of 86 victories set by Swede Ingemar Stenmark. However, Vonn has not returned to on-snow training yet.

“She’s just doing rehab and strength and conditioning,” Kristofic said, adding that there is no precise date set for her return to ski training. “It really depends on how things go when she’s not on snow. It’s sort of day by day.”

Vonn, 34 was planning to retire at the end of this season but the injury prompted her to announce recently that she plans to come back for one more series of speed races in Lake Louise, Alberta, next season.