Lindsey Vonn delivered a masterclass in speed and resilience on Friday, storming to victory in the opening women’s downhill of the 2025-26 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season in St. Moritz, Switzerland. At 41 years old, the American legend clocked a blistering time of 1:29.63 to win by 0.98 seconds, becoming the oldest skier—male or female—to ever claim a World Cup race victory.
Vonn, who retired in 2019 due to chronic injuries and underwent partial knee replacement surgery before her improbable comeback last season, overpowered the field on the iconic Corviglia course under perfect sunny conditions. She trailed early leaders through the first two intervals but unleashed her signature power in the middle and lower sections, extending her record for most downhill wins to 44 and her overall World Cup victories to 83—her first since March.
Austria’s Magdalena Egger earned her first career podium with second place (+0.98), while compatriot Mirjam Puchner, the 2025 world championship silver medalist, took third (+1.16). Italy’s Sofia Goggia, a multiple downhill champion, finished fourth.
The triumph marks a sensational boost for Vonn’s ambitions at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, where she aims for a fifth Games appearance and to add to her three Olympic medals (including 2010 downhill gold). “I knew I was skiing fast, but you never know until the first race,” Vonn said post-race. “It was a little faster than I expected. I had a great run but also made some mistakes, so I’m excited for tomorrow.”
Vonn expressed particular optimism for Sunday’s super-G, a discipline where she has historically dominated, and noted the emotional weight of the weekend: “This is my last weekend racing in St. Moritz ever… It almost doesn’t feel real.
Reactions Pour In from Peers and Stars
Tennis world No. 2 Iga Świątek, a close friend of Vonn’s, captured the global awe with a stunned Instagram post: a photo of herself watching on TV captioned “WHATTT @lindseyvonn 🔥🔥 Wow.”
American skiing icon Mikaela Shiffrin, who surpassed Vonn’s win record in 2023, praised the inspiration: “What an incredible show of how far you can climb with hard work, determination, patience, and so much passion 🥹💥 Huge congratulations @lindseyvonn.”
Vonn’s emotional podium moment—tears during the anthem followed by a playful Stephen Curry “night-night” celebration—underscored the significance of her return after nearly six years away.
Vonn returns to the gate Saturday for another downhill, followed by super-G on Sunday, as she continues what many are calling the most remarkable comeback in alpine skiing history.
