At 41, Lindsey Vonn has once again proven she is the queen of downhill skiing. On Friday, she became the oldest winner of a World Cup race since the circuit began in 1967, capturing a stunning downhill victory at St. Moritz. This marks her first win in nearly eight years and the first since returning from a five-year retirement, racing with titanium implants in her right knee.
Vonn surged to the finish with a commanding 1.16-second lead over Austria’s Mirjam Puchner, despite trailing by 0.61 seconds after the first two time checks. Her margin remained significant even after Magdalena Egger claimed second place, pushing Puchner to third. Emotional after the race, Vonn shed tears on the podium as the U.S. national anthem played, celebrating a perfect start to her Olympic season.
This victory follows a successful collaboration with new coach Aksel Lund Svindal, the 2018 Olympic men’s downhill champion. On the sunlit Corviglia course, Vonn clocked the fastest splits on the bottom half, reaching speeds of 119 kph (74 mph). Her exuberant finish included a celebratory gesture and a triumphant shout of joy, signaling her readiness for the Milan Cortina Winter Games in February, where she aims for another Olympic gold.
Vonn shattered multiple age records with her win. She is now the oldest winner in men’s or women’s World Cup history, surpassing Didier Cuche’s 2012 record and the previous women’s mark of 34 years, 7 months held by Federica Brignone. Since returning to competition, Vonn has consistently made history, including podium finishes well past age 35 and points-scoring results into her late 30s. She plans to retire at the end of the season, closing a remarkable chapter in skiing history.
Friday’s race was Vonn’s 125th World Cup downhill start over a 24-year career. She has now won a record 44 downhill races and 83 across all disciplines, cementing her dominance in the fastest events. Injuries to key competitors, including Federica Brignone, Lara Gut-Behrami, Corinne Suter, Lauren Macuga, and Michelle Gisin, highlighted the challenges of the season, yet Vonn’s performance underscored her unmatched skill and determination in the sport.
