Former Olympic gold medalist and world champion Lindsey Vonn is returning to skiing, she announced Thursday. She said in an interview with The New York Times that her return was not planned and that she reconsidered only after successful knee replacement surgery seven months ago stopped the pain that had prompted her retirement.

Skier Lindsey Vonn has won three Olympic medals and 82 World Cup titles. Read about her age, career, boyfriend, ex-husband, return from retirement, and more.

Lindsey Vonn says she is coming out of retirement to rejoin the U.S. Ski Team in an attempt to race again at age 40.