Women pursuing a sporting career past the age of 30 face harsh criticism and an even higher standard for performance.
Just 12.5 seconds into her run at the 2026 Winter Olympics, American alpine skier Lindsey Vonn was five inches too tight on her turn when her right arm hooked the inside of the gate, sending her flying around the corner and crashing in the middle of the course. Vonn shattered her tibia, fibula, fractured her tibial plateau, broke her right ankle, and had to be airlifted off the mountain.
At age 41 and competing on a torn ACL, Vonn faced scrutiny for her decision to race. Those critiquing Vonn’s choice to compete have missed out on a more nuanced conversation about the pressures older women face in sport; to stay and perform or else be characterized as crazy and obsessed.
Comments speaking out against Vonn’s decision are just another extension of society trying to tell women what they can and can’t do with their bodies.
Coming out of a six-year retirement at age 40, Vonn, now 41, was already getting raised eyebrows for her age. Fellow ski racer Michaela Dorfmeister suggested on Austrian T.V. that Vonn should “see a psychologist” instead of leaving retirement.
Blatant criticism aside, the promotion leading up to the Olympics overly sensationalized Vonn’s age. Even if commending her comeback, Vonn’s age was emphasized, even more so than her recent World Cup victory. Headlines like “Vonn, 41, wins second World Cup title of season,” and “Lindsey Vonn wins World Cup downhill at age 41 to start her Olympic season,” were all too common. It seemed virtually impossible for media outlets to celebrate Vonn without bringing up her age.
Vonn isn’t alone. Despite having an incredible tournament in the 2025 Rugby World Cup, commentators constantly commented on forward Karen Paquin’s age, which felt like every time she touched the ball. Venus Williams is one of the most decorated tennis players in history, yet each match, her age is brought up as if it’s another check on the list until retirement. The Canadian ice hockey captain, Marie-Philip Poulin, is 34 years old, a fact frequently brought up by commentators under the guise of “experience.”
Comparatively, male athletes have long careers well into their forties without a word from the media. LeBron James is 41 years old, a fact made known by his player profile, not commentators. Cristiano Ronaldo is also 41, and while he may retire at the end of his contract with Al-Nassr, it’s not something that’s constantly emphasized.
At the 2026 Olympics, Christof Innerhofer of Italy, Jorrit Bergsma of the Netherlands and Nick Baumgartner of the U.S. were all above the age of 40. While some commented on their age, their ability to compete was never questioned.
When Vonn tore her ACL, she was already facing the fact that 2026 would be her last Olympics. Taking the time to recover and come back in four years was never an option. Vonn’s fate was sealed in a way male athletes so rarely are—she could compete now, or never again.
In an opinion piece in USA Today, Greg Garber suggested that Vonn tied her self-worth to athletic performance and was unable to quit. What could’ve been a miraculous recovery was quickly spun to frame Vonn as crazy and obsessed. What Garber missed is that men and women alike tie their identity to sports. While men are allowed to pursue their sport as long as they like, women face constant scrutiny and condemnation if they fail to achieve the same milestones they did at the height of their career.
This discrepancy speaks to a broader trend where men are allowed to engage with their passions, while women face heightened scrutiny for pursuing their hobbies and interests. Even at the grassroots level, 62 per cent of Canadian men pursue recreational sports into adulthood, compared to 49 per cent of women.
Of course, these ratios are common but aren’t without exceptions. Many women have long and successful sporting careers, some having children, then returning stronger than before. Vonn was one slip away from being a success story, but of course, women can’t fail in silence. Their flaws are broadcast, and what once was an honourable pursuit of passion is framed as insanity and obsession.
Regardless of whether choosing to race in the Olympics was safe or not, there were factors influencing Vonn’s decision that were far beyond her control. Older female athletes are under a microscope, and they aren’t allowed to fail. Being an ambitious and competitive person, Vonn took her chances. Unfortunately, it didn’t pay off, and of course, that’s all anyone’s talking about.
The discourse surrounding Vonn’s crash points to a problem that extends far beyond sports. Women are told they can’t pursue their passions past a certain age, and if they do, their failures are highlighted far more than their successes.
Tags
feminism, Lindsey Vonn, Olympics, skiing
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