ST. ANTON, Austria — After six years away from the World Cup downhill circuit, Lindsey Vonn made an exhilarating return that left onlookers in awe. The commentator for the race captured the moment perfectly with an enthusiastic, “Wow, Lindsey, wow!” as she took to the slopes once again at the age of 40, now equipped with a titanium knee from surgery last year.
Competing in St. Anton, which is basked in sunlight, Vonn showcased her remarkable skills by finishing in a commendable sixth place while donning an unusual low-ranked bib No. 32. She not only made a significant impact on the competition but also ensured the race would be memorable. Vonn clocked the fastest speed in the initial part of the course, reaching an impressive 124 kph (77 mph), and wrapped up her race just 0.58 seconds behind the leading racer, Federica Brignone from Italy.
Crossing the finish line, Vonn couldn’t contain her excitement, raising her arms in triumph and sporting a big smile upon seeing her time, which was the fifth-fastest overall. “That was fun,” she expressed in an interview with Eurosport. “I still made a couple of mistakes; I know I can be faster. I haven’t started outside the top 30 since I was probably 17 years old. All things considered, it was a great start,” she added, reflecting on her performance.
In a surprising twist, Vonn was pushed down to sixth place when 21-year-old Swiss skier Malorie Blanc, making her World Cup downhill debut while wearing bib No. 46, claimed second place, finishing a mere 0.07 seconds behind Brignone. In a humorous moment, Vonn commented, “I was a little bit happier with fifth place than sixth place.”
This race in St. Anton marked the second outing for Vonn in this new chapter of her illustrious career following her surgery. Just three weeks earlier, she placed 14th in a super-G in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Vonn noted, “I feel a little bit more confident and comfortable in downhill than I do in super-G. And I know this hill really well,” recalling her victory at St. Anton back in 2007.
Throughout her esteemed career, Vonn has racked up an incredible 43 downhill wins out of her total of 82 World Cup victories. Her previous downhill race had been in January 2019, where she finished ninth at Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Just weeks later, she secured a bronze medal at the World Championships in Are, Sweden, before announcing her retirement.
On Saturday, Vonn skied in picturesque conditions, with a still sunny atmosphere and temperatures hovering at -8 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit). Due to significant snowfall following Thursday’s training run, the Karl Schranz course was shortened to 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles). Looking ahead, Vonn is set to compete in a super-G event scheduled for Sunday, followed by her return to Cortina next week, a course where she has enjoyed notable success with 12 World Cup victories. The hill will also be part of the women’s events in the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics.
