Olympics
With the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics approaching, qualification battles are intensifying across winter sports. While the official qualification period runs until January 18, 2026, several athletes have already secured early nomination, including American alpine skiing star Lindsey Vonn.
U.S. Ski & Snowboard confirmed Vonn’s qualification through its social media channels, marking a significant milestone in her comeback season.
OLYMPICS, HERE WE COME!!
I have officially qualified for the Olympics in Cortina!!! @teamusaI am honored to be able to represent my country one more time, in my 5th and final Olympics! When I made the decision to return to ski racing, I always had one eye on Cortina because it’s a place that is very, very special to me. Although I can’t guarantee any outcomes, I can guarantee that I will give my absolute best every time l kick out of the starting gate. No matter how these games end up, I feel like I’ve already won.I am grateful for how the season has gone so far, but I am just getting started.
See you in Cortina!!
— Lindsey Vonn on Facebook
Vonn, one of the most decorated alpine skiers in history, has earned a place on the United States Olympic team following a remarkable performance so far at the 2025-26 World Cup season. The 41-year-old Olympic champion retired in 2019 and underwent partial knee replacement surgery in 2024 before announcing her comeback later that year. So far this season, Vonn has secured four podiums in a total of five speed events, securing her a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.
Her return to elite competition ranks among the most notable comebacks in alpine skiing. Vonn remains the most successful downhill skier in history, with eight Downhill season titles and 44 Downhill World Cup victories. Overall, she has 83 total career victories, a Downhill gold medal from the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and two additional Olympic medals.
Olympic qualification in alpine skiing follows a two-step process. Athletes must first meet eligibility criteria set by the International Olympic Committee and the International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS), including earning sufficient FIS points during the qualification period from October 25, 2025, to January 18, 2026. For speed events such as Downhill and Super-G, athletes must also record at least one top 30 finish in a World Cup, World Championships, or Junior World Championships race.
Final team selection, however, is determined by each national federation. Nations receive Olympic quota spots based on World Cup rankings, with larger nations such as the United States eligible to send up to 11 alpine skiers per gender. A maximum of four athletes may start in each discipline.
To select its Olympic team, U.S. Ski & Snowboard uses a combination of objective and discretionary criteria. Automatic nomination is typically awarded to athletes who achieve a top-three finish in a World Cup race during the selection window, place in the top 15 of a World Cup discipline ranking, or meet specific performance benchmarks across multiple races.
Under these criteria, athletes such as Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin have secured early nominations for the Milano Cortina Games. Whether Vonn and Shiffrin can compete together in the Combined event as the absolute dream team remains to be seen. “The fastest Downhill skier competes with the fastest Slalom skier,” Lindsey Vonn explained. “The team constellation, however, is ultimately a decision by the U.S. Ski Team, and we as athletes have no say in that. Last year it was not to be, but this year I am the best in Downhill, so we will see.” Vonn’s main focus will be the individual Downhill event, she explained to SnowBrains after her victory in Downhill in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
