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 only reconsidered after successful knee replacement surgery seven months ago stopped the pain that had prompted her retirement.

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.

Five years ago, Lindsey Vonn retired from ski racing, largely because her aching right knee, damaged by high speed crashes and multiple surgeries, could no longer take the stress of the sport. “My career ended with no intention of coming back,