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 is ending her retirement and rejoining the U.S. Ski Team, she said Thursday, five years after she announced the end of her career and six years after earning her third Olympic medal.