Olympic skiing legend Lindsey Vonn has ignited dating rumors following a recent appearance in New York City with French alpine skier Matthieu Bailet. The two athletes were photographed together on Thursday, May 7, during what appeared to be a casual outing in Manhattan's SoHo neighborhood.
According to photographs obtained by Page Six, Vonn, 41, and Bailet, 30, were seen walking through the trendy downtown district and later sitting together while waiting for the subway. Bailet wore a light blue button shirt paired with navy trousers and a matching sport coat, while Vonn donned white pants and a black jacket. Notably, the American skiing icon was using crutches as she continues her recovery from a serious crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy this past February.
Neither Vonn nor Bailet has publicly addressed the nature of their relationship. However, the two athletes follow each other on social media and share a professional connection as alpine ski racers who have both competed extensively on the sport's world cup circuit. The shared background in elite competitive skiing provides common ground for the pair, though the extent of their personal relationship remains unconfirmed.
The New York City sighting came just days after Vonn made a triumphant appearance at the Met Gala earlier this week, where she ditched her crutches for the first time since her Olympic crash. The milestone moment held significant personal meaning for the decorated athlete, who wore a custom Thom Browne gown to the prestigious annual fundraiser.
Speaking with Vogue ahead of the Met Gala, Vonn reflected on the emotional significance of the event. "I've been in such a different world, especially since my crash," she explained. "This is kind of my coming-out party — I get to be around people, wearing a dress that's beautiful and feminine, and put my crutches down for the first time."
She continued, "Monday will be the first few steps that I take — definitely first stairs — without crutches. I'm excited, for many reasons, to get to that point."
Vonn's recovery journey has been arduous following the devastating crash at the Milano Cortina Games. She suffered a compound fracture and tibial plateau fracture in her left leg, injuries that required multiple surgical interventions. The severity of her condition escalated when she developed compartment syndrome, a dangerous complication that necessitated emergency surgery to save her leg.
The Olympic crash was preceded by another setback just days earlier when Vonn tore her ACL during a World Cup race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Despite the injury, she made the decision to compete in the Olympics after undergoing physical tests that she believed demonstrated her readiness.
The rehabilitation process has tested Vonn both physically and mentally. "All these things, it took time," she acknowledged. "There were so many layers to it. That made it challenging. And then of course, when you have such slow progress, that inevitably becomes more mentally challenging as well."
As Vonn continues her recovery and gradually returns to public life, her appearance with Bailet represents another step forward in reclaiming normalcy. Whether the relationship between the two skiers develops beyond friendship remains to be seen, but for now, Vonn appears focused on her healing journey and celebrating the small victories along the way.
