With the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics just weeks away, the U.S. women’s Alpine ski team delivered a powerhouse performance in the FIS World Cup downhill at Zauchensee, Austria, on January 10. The standout moment came from 41-year-old legend Lindsey Vonn, who claimed her 84th career World Cup victory — her second downhill win of the season — in challenging, snowy conditions on a shortened course.
Vonn clocked a blistering time of 1:06.24, finishing 0.37 seconds ahead of Norway’s Kajsa Vickhoff Lie in second place. Her teammate Jacqueline Wiles rounded out the podium in third, just 0.48 seconds back, marking the first time since 2018 that two American women shared a World Cup downhill podium.
Here are some exciting shots of Lindsey Vonn powering through the course and celebrating her triumphant return to the top:
The strong U.S. showing extended beyond the podium, with multiple Americans securing top-20 finishes, including Breezy Johnson, Allison Mollin, and Keely Cashman. The collective success highlighted the depth and momentum of the U.S. Ski Team as they build toward the Olympics.
Mikaela Shiffrin, the all-time World Cup wins leader with 106 victories, couldn’t contain her excitement while watching from afar. The two-time Olympic champion was spotted jumping and cheering enthusiastically, later sharing a video clip on her Instagram Story with the caption:
“Me currently watching @skiweltcup_zauchensee. @usskiteam POP OFF🔥 @lindseyvonn @jacquelinewiles @breezyjohnsonski @amo_ski @keely_cashman (and more to come!)”
Shiffrin’s reaction perfectly captured the pride and energy surrounding the team’s performance. These images show her signature high-energy style in celebration:
Mikaela Shiffrin captures 104th World Cup win at Copper Mountain
Vonn’s win reinforces her status as a top favorite for downhill gold at the upcoming Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo — a venue where she has enjoyed massive success in the past. After overcoming a partial knee replacement and a multi-year retirement, her remarkable comeback continues to inspire, with four podiums in four downhills this season.
The U.S. team’s dominant day in Zauchensee sends a strong message: they’re peaking at the perfect time. As Vonn reflected on her journey, the focus now shifts to the super-G event on January 11 and the final push toward Olympic glory.
What an incredible boost for Team USA! 🚀
