SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria (AP) — Lindsey Vonn is feeling sick with “a cold or the flu” on the eve of her first event at the world championships in her return to ski racing at the age of 40.

The American, a two-time world champion and the holder of eight total medals at the biggest event in skiing outside the Olympics, is scheduled to race in the super-G on Thursday.

“I definitely have a cold or the flu or something,” Vonn said in an audio statement sent to The Associated Press. “Yesterday afternoon I started to really not feel well. Trying to do everything I can to recover.”

On Instagram, Vonn posted a story that featured a photo of her wearing a mask and apparently inhaling something. “Current state…could be better,” she wrote.

Vonn placed 29th in Wednesday’s second downhill training session. Her other two races are the downhill on Saturday and the team combined next week.

Lindsey Vonn feeling sick with 'a cold or the flu' on the eve of her opening event at skiing worlds | iNFOnews.ca — United States’ Lindsey Vonn speeds down the course during a women’s downhill training, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

“Today’s training was fine. Definitely lacked energy, especially on the bottom of the course, but hopefully I can rest the rest of today and be ready for the super-G tomorrow,” Vonn said in the audio statement.

Vonn is scheduled to start with the No. 30 bib in the super-G.

Mirjam Puchner of Austria led the training session on Wednesday and Breezy Johnson, Vonn’s American teammate, placed second for the second straight day.