Lindsey Vonn doesn’t want health or history to dictate when her storied career ends.

With yet another knee injury behind her and a major record within reach, the three-time Olympic medalist is determined to retire on her terms.

Vonn is ready to return from injury and resume her pursuit of the World Cup wins record. She is four victories shy of Ingemar Stenmark’s 86 victories, making her the only skier to even get close to the Swedish great. Matching that mark is a goal for Vonn, but she doesn’t want it to become an obsession before she retires later this year.

“The record won’t define me, whether I get it or not,” Vonn told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Wednesday. “I don’t need 87 wins to be able to continue the work of my foundation, to help kids, inspire people to be healthy and active and be positive and strive to reach their dreams and goals. I don’t need that record to accomplish those things. Once I retire, 87 won’t really matter anymore.

“It’s not going to change the way I leave the sport.”

The 34-year-old will retire after the season with a long list of accomplishments. She won downhill gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games, eight World Cup season titles in downhill, five more in super-G, and has four overall World Cup championships.