Lindsey Vonn’s highly anticipated return to the Alpine skiing world championships was cut short after just 25 seconds when she clipped a gate and failed to finish the super-G race on Thursday.
Vonn, who has been battling cold-like symptoms, lost control after hooking her right arm on the 11th gate, briefly losing feeling in her arm. Despite the setback, she insists she’ll continue competing, with her sights set on Saturday’s downhill event.
A rough start to her comeback
Vonn’s return to professional skiing after nearly six years of retirement has been filled with challenges, including adapting to new equipment and a titanium right knee. She has now failed to finish in three of her last four races.
“I didn’t wait six years to stay in bed because I’m sick,” Vonn said. “I’m going to be out there and having fun. Maybe it’s not the result I wanted, but I was in the starting gate, I was enjoying it, and I had a great time.”
What happened on the course?
Starting with the No. 30 bib, Vonn attacked the course aggressively but miscalculated a turn, leading to her arm getting caught against a gate. The impact momentarily numbed her arm, but she managed to ski down to the finish area and wave to the crowd.
“I hit my nerve somehow,” Vonn explained. “I hit the gate and lost feeling in my arm, but it’s coming back slowly.”
Despite the mishap, Vonn said she felt good in the early section of the course and will try different equipment in her next training run to improve her performance.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s downhill
Vonn remains committed to her comeback, particularly with the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics on the horizon. The American skiing legend holds a record 12 victories in Cortina d’Ampezzo, making it a key goal in her return.
While her first race didn’t go as planned, Vonn stayed to celebrate 22-year-old American teammate Lauren Macuga’s surprise podium finish, highlighting her role as both a competitor and mentor.
“I’m really excited for Lauren. She skied amazing. I’m really proud of her,” Vonn said.
With Saturday’s downhill event approaching, all eyes will be on Vonn to see if she can overcome illness, equipment adjustments, and early struggles to make her mark once again.
