In a performance that defied age and expectations, American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn claimed a resounding victory in the women’s downhill at the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in St. Moritz on Friday, marking her first World Cup win in nearly eight years and catapulting her to third place outright on the all-time podium list.
The 41-year-old Vonn clocked a blistering time of 1:29.63 on the demanding Corviglia course, finishing 0.98 seconds ahead of Austria’s Magdalena Egger, who secured her maiden World Cup podium in second place. Fellow Austrian Mirjam Puchner rounded out the top three, 1.16 seconds back.
With this triumph – her 83rd career World Cup victory and 44th in downhill – Vonn added her 139th podium finish, surpassing Marcel Hirscher and moving ahead of the Austrian great. Now, only Mikaela Shiffrin and the legendary Ingemar Stenmark stand above her on the historic leaderboard.
Vonn’s win also etched her name deeper into the record books as the oldest skier, male or female, ever to win a World Cup race. Overcoming a partial knee replacement and a nearly six-year retirement, Vonn’s comeback has been nothing short of extraordinary. She returned to competition last season, capping it with a podium in Sun Valley that made her the oldest woman to step on a World Cup podium at 40.
“It almost doesn’t feel real,” Vonn said after the race, tears flowing during the national anthem on the podium. “This is my last weekend racing in St. Moritz ever – I’m not racing after this year.”
Rivals were left in awe. Italy’s Sofia Goggia, a multiple St. Moritz winner who finished fourth, admitted: “I thought she was the one to beat today, but I didn’t think she was a second ahead. I am really impressed.”
Egger, 24 and racing in the shadow of Vonn’s dominance, called her runner-up finish “a dream come true,” while praising the American’s raw power on the course.
The victory signals strong form heading into the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, where Vonn aims to add to her Olympic downhill gold from 2010. Coached this season by fellow legend Aksel Lund Svindal, Vonn hinted the result might extend her plans beyond the Games.
Another downhill is scheduled for Saturday in St. Moritz, followed by a super-G on Sunday – events where Vonn has historically excelled.
