Lindsey Vonn relies on Aksel Lund Svindal to win an Olympic medal

indsey Vonn announced via her Instagram account that Aksel Lund Svindal will join her coaching staff for next season ahead of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Games, where the 40-year-old Minnesota-born, Colorado-transplanted outfielder is avowedly aiming for an Olympic medal, which would be the fourth of her career.

Both the U.S. and Norwegian had retired in 2019 after winning bronze in the women’s downhill and silver in the men’s, respectively, but while Svindal hasn’t given it a second thought, Vonn returned to competition last year by taking a resounding second place in the super-G on her home slopes in Sun Valley during last year’s World Cup finals, becoming by far the oldest, at 40 years and 156 days, to stand on a podium in the Circus Rose.

“I am excited to finally announce that Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal will be joining my team as coach and material strategist for next season – Lindsey wrote on social -. Our careers have been intertwined for many years and we have a great friendship with so much respect for each other. Also, since we are both longtime Head athletes, the partnership makes perfect sense. Going back to when we both won the World Cup in 2008, we even shared retirement (the first time) at the same time in 2019, we have known each other for so long. Super excited about the journey ahead!”

Lindsey Vonn has won 82 World Cup races in her career, 4 overall trophies, 8 downhill, 5 super-G and 3 combined, 2 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze world championships, 1 gold and 2 bronze Olympic medals. Svindal, who is two years older than Lindsey, has collected 36 World Cup victories, 2 overall crystal balls, 2 downhill, 5 super-G, 1 giant slalom and 1 combined, 5 world golds, 2 silvers and 2 bronzes, and 2 Olympic golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze. The palmares of both of them are impressive, will their collaboration, which is media-impactful for alpine skiing fans, also work from a results perspective?