SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria — In a surprising turn, Lindsey Vonn finished 15th in the world championship downhill race, placing just above Sofia Goggia and ahead of Malorie Blanc, a promising 19-year-old Swiss skier. Historically, Vonn has never placed outside the top 10 in her signature event at world championships or the Olympics, making this performance uncharted territory for the veteran athlete.
Despite not achieving her usual standards, Vonn’s result was commendable and better than most of the other competitors in the 33-woman field. Recently returning to competitive skiing at the age of 40 with a newly fitted titanium knee, Vonn faced additional challenges after getting entangled with a gate during the super-G race while dealing with cold and flu-like symptoms. Reflecting on her performance, she noted it represented “good progress.”
“Naturally, I expect a lot from myself during world championships,” Vonn stated. “When everything aligns, I know my capabilities. Currently, I don’t have all the pieces of the puzzle; I have the corners but am missing some center pieces. Overall, my main goal was to have a plan in place and execute it.”
Looking ahead, Vonn is focused on competing effectively at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics, which is set for next year. In a previous interview, she expressed intentions of retiring after the skiing events in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where she has an impressive record of 12 World Cup victories.
“At the start, I felt immense pressure as if it were a practice run for the Olympics, and I accomplished what I set out to do,” Vonn explained. “It’s clear that not everything is functioning seamlessly, but I recognize my potential for improvement, and I need my equipment to align better. It feels like jumping into a Formula 1 car with no prior training.”
Following the retirement of her long-time ski technician Heinz Haemmerle, Vonn was assigned a new technician, Chris Krause, who has worked with renowned skiers like Didier Cuche and Bode Miller for her comeback. However, with Krause falling ill, she was reassigned another technician, Rene Meusburger.
“There are many pieces on the board but not all in the correct position,” Vonn commented. “But it’s good progress. I’m ahead of Sofi, and she’s the top competitor I’ll have to beat in Cortina. So I’m not skiing poorly.”
Overall, Vonn concluded her run 1.96 seconds behind the winner, her teammate Breezy Johnson, while another American skier, Lauren Macuga, secured fifth place just after winning a bronze in the super-G two days prior. Macuga praised Vonn’s achievement, stating, “It’s amazing for Lindsey; she’s been away for six years and is competing at the world championships. I know she’s going to keep improving.”
Vonn is set to participate in the team combined event on Tuesday. With the women’s downhill for the Olympics scheduled for Feb. 8, 2026, Vonn has her sights set on significant improvements by then.
“I certainly don’t want to be in this same position next year. My hope is to be much further along. During the start, I kept that goal in mind; it was crucial for me to approach it mentally clear and with accuracy. I feel confident knowing I can perform under pressure,” she shared.
It’s essential to note that Vonn has a track record of exiting competitions triumphantly. In 2018, she secured a bronze in downhill at what seemed to be her final Olympic appearance and later won another bronze at the 2019 world championships before her retirement.
However, her return to the sport has drawn criticism, particularly in Europe, considering the potential risks involved at an age when few women of her calibre compete. “There will always be critics; no matter my actions, someone will have something to say,” Vonn remarked. “Honestly, if you don’t have detractors, then you’re likely not succeeding. So bring it on.”
