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Vonn, Ronaldo & Co.: Passion is above all else

"Krone" head of sport Peter Moizi writes about the super evergreens of the sporting world ...(Bild: AFP, Krone Kreativ)

How does it work after such a long break? What have their opponents done in recent years? How can you ski like that with an artificial knee? Is Lindsey Vonn an alien? Many reader questions reach the editorial team. Lindsey's unexpected return to the World Cup is moving the sports world. 14th place at the start, sixth place in the downhill and fourth place on Sunday.

The 40-year-old joins the list of super-evergreens. A small excerpt ...

• Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his 40th birthday on February 5, and his 217 (!) international caps for Portugal to date are a record for the ages.

• In tennis, Serena Williams made it to seventh place after her maternity leave at the age of 39 - Roger Federer played his last match at the age of 41.

• 43-year-old Fernando Alonso completed his 400th Grand Prix in Qatar in 2024 - more than anyone before him in Formula 1.

• Snowboarder Claudia Riegler, 51, recently finished second on the podium in the parallel slalom in Yanqing, China.

Passion is above all else
What drives these exceptional athletes? Ronaldo & Co. always give similar answers: the love of sport, the fun of the challenge and self-affirmation! Financial aspects are hardly an incentive, because as an athlete you can't put a price on the moments of total happiness. Passion is above all else.