Just weeks before the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, 41-year-old American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn delivered a masterful performance, securing her 84th career FIS Alpine Ski World Cup win in the women’s downhill at Zauchensee, Austria, on January 10.
The victory marks Vonn’s second downhill triumph of the 2025-26 season and her fourth podium finish in as many downhill races this year, solidifying her status as the frontrunner in the discipline standings. Starting with bib number six on a shortened Kälberloch course due to heavy snowfall and challenging conditions, Vonn clocked an impressive time of 1:06.24, finishing 0.37 seconds ahead of Norway’s Kajsa Vickhoff Lie in second place.
Her U.S. teammate Jacqueline Wiles rounded out the podium in third (+0.48), marking the first U.S. double podium in a World Cup downhill since 2018 and highlighting the depth of American speed skiing.
Here are some stunning action shots from Vonn’s dominant run in Zauchensee:
Vonn, the Vancouver 2010 Olympic downhill gold medalist and three-time Olympic medalist overall, expressed pure joy after the race. “It’s just so fun to go fast!” she exclaimed, adding that she feels perfectly balanced and in control: “I know my limits really well; I’m really in balance. I can play with things a little bit more… my body is responding the way I want it to. It feels amazing, and I try to enjoy every second.”
The win extends her record as the oldest World Cup downhill champion and brings her just two victories shy of Ingemar Stenmark’s all-time mark of 86. Vonn attributed her success to stubborn competitiveness, smart line choices — including a daring straight line through the tricky Panorama turn — and the guidance of her coach, double Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal.
More exhilarating moments from the race:
Vonn wins second World Cup downhill of season in Zauchensee for …
Vonn’s remarkable comeback — following retirement in 2019 and a partial knee replacement with titanium implants — has captivated the skiing world. She has already qualified for the downhill at Milano Cortina 2026 (starting February 6), a venue where she holds the record for most World Cup wins (12), and she is eyeing a potential medal in what she calls her “5th and final Olympics.”
With the super-G event in Zauchensee following on January 11 and more races ahead, Vonn remains fiercely motivated. “Everyone knows how competitive I am,” she has said, hinting at her podium ambitions in Cortina.
As the Olympics approach, Vonn continues to inspire, proving age and adversity are no match for determination and skill.
Here’s Vonn in her element, celebrating another historic milestone:
Lindsey Vonn impresses again winning World Cup downhill for 2nd …
Stay tuned for more updates as the countdown to Milano Cortina 2026 intensifies!
