In a performance that left the skiing world in awe, Lindsey Vonn declared her sensational victory in Friday’s women’s downhill at St. Moritz, Switzerland, as potentially “the best and most meaningful win” of her legendary career — her 83rd World Cup triumph and first since 2018.
The 41-year-old American skiing icon dominated the Corviglia course, clocking 1:29.63 to finish 0.98 seconds ahead of Austria’s Magdalena Egger, who earned her maiden World Cup podium in second. Mirjam Puchner, also of Austria, rounded out the top three at +1.16 seconds.
Vonn, who returned to the World Cup circuit last season after a nearly six-year retirement and partial knee replacement, shattered records by becoming the oldest skier ever to win a World Cup race — surpassing the previous mark by four years.
“Don’t ever stop believing in yourself!!” Vonn posted on social media, still processing the emotion. She thanked her @usskiteam, noting seven Americans in the top 30, and congratulated Egger on her first podium and Puchner on bronze.
The win marks Vonn’s 44th in downhill — a record — and boosts her Olympic ambitions for Milano Cortina 2026. With flawless conditions and blistering speed, Vonn powered through the middle and lower sections to seize the lead.
As she heads into today’s Super-G (where teammate Mikaela Shiffrin is also competing), Vonn’s comeback story continues to inspire: age is just a number when passion and grit take the wheel.
