At 41, Lindsey Vonn has once again defied the odds. The American skiing legend departed St. Moritz this weekend atop the women’s Downhill World Cup standings after a stunning victory in Friday’s opening race and a strong second-place finish on Saturday, capping an “amazing” weekend that she described as unexpected yet deeply rewarding.
“Leaving St Moritz with the leader bib in Downhill was not on my bingo card… but I’ll take it!” Vonn wrote in a social media post reflecting on the races. “This weekend was amazing in so many ways. All the work that was put in over the past year is coming together.”
Vonn’s triumphant return to form began on Friday, December 12, when she dominated the season’s first women’s Downhill, clocking 1:29.63 to win by nearly a full second – a margin rarely seen in elite competition. The victory marked her 83rd World Cup win, her first since 2018, and made her the oldest skier ever to claim a World Cup race, surpassing previous records.
One day later, in the second Downhill on Saturday, Vonn narrowly missed repeating the feat, finishing second behind Germany’s Emma Aicher by just 0.24 seconds. The result was enough to secure the red leader’s bib in the Downhill discipline as she heads to next weekend’s races in Val d’Isère, France.
“There are so many positives to take away from these races but I also always strive to be better. And I can be better,” Vonn added, noting areas for improvement ahead of Val d’Isère. “I have things to work on… and I am very excited to keep pushing myself to get better.”
Vonn also highlighted the strong performances of her U.S. teammates, congratulating them on personal bests and praising the team’s momentum. “Huge congrats to my teammates this weekend as well! A lot of personal best results and overall the team is on a roll!
The weekend’s success comes amid Vonn’s ongoing comeback after nearly six years away from the sport, following a partial knee replacement. Now in her second season back, she has silenced doubters with consistent top results, fueling aspirations for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.
“I’m leaving happy, grateful, humbled, tired…. Couldn’t ask for more,” Vonn concluded. “The best is yet to come!” 🙏🏻
With the Downhill leader bib in hand, Vonn’s remarkable resurgence continues to captivate the skiing world as the season builds toward the Winter Games.
