Lindsey Vonn, the 41-year-old skiing legend, is thrilled to return to Val d’Isère, France, this weekend—eight years after her last race there—hoping to claim another quirky prize: a live cow.
The American speed queen, fresh off becoming the oldest skier to win a World Cup event with her downhill victory in St. Moritz last weekend, arrives at the iconic French resort with fond memories and high ambitions. Vonn already boasts seven wins in Val d’Isère, including her very first World Cup downhill triumph in 2005, which famously came with her inaugural cow prize.
“I’m so happy to be back here,” Vonn said on Friday. “I actually saw the woman that gave me my first cow in 2005 yesterday—which is great to see her. I have a lot of great memories here.”c38168,390441
Known for declining cash alternatives in favor of the actual animals, Vonn has collected four cows over the years from Val d’Isère victories. “I’d love to add one more because the rest of them are gone. It’s been so long that my cows are dead,” she quipped.
Following a five-year retirement and a 2024 knee replacement with titanium implants, Vonn’s comeback has been remarkable. Her St. Moritz downhill win marked her first victory since 2018, followed by a second-place finish the next day and fourth in super-G.
“My body feels amazing. I have an amazing team and it’s fun. It’s so much fun,” Vonn said, contrasting her current joy with the pain that marred her initial retirement. “When I finished my career the first time, the last season was horrible… Now, it’s nice to be back here one final time and remember everything that I’ve done and get a chance to finish my career in a strong way.”befaf0,f65801
The weekend features a downhill on Saturday and super-G on Sunday. Vonn leads the downhill standings and trails Italy’s Sofia Goggia in super-G. “Sofia is pushing me hard so that makes it even more exciting for me. I love that challenge,” she added.
Familiarity with the demanding Oreiller-Killy piste gives her an edge: “I knew where to go. This is the same hill that I love so much.”
If Vonn triumphs again, her collection of bovine trophies could grow—capping a fairy-tale chapter in one of skiing’s greatest comebacks.
