The legend continues. At 41 years old, Lindsey Vonn defied the odds once again, securing her fifth consecutive podium in women’s downhill World Cup races this season with a gritty third-place finish at Tarvisio on Saturday.
Vonn clocked a time of 1:46.54, just 0.26 seconds behind Italy’s Nicol Delago, who claimed her maiden World Cup victory in 1:46.28 on home snow. Germany’s Kira Weidle-Winkelmann took silver, 0.20 seconds ahead of Vonn, in a race shrouded by thick fog that challenged visibility and tested every competitor’s nerve.
The American speed queen, competing in her remarkable comeback following a partial knee replacement and a five-year retirement, showed her trademark aggression. She hit the fastest top speed of the field at 136.3 km/h (84.7 mph) and posted the quickest final sector, recovering from a mid-course veer into fresh snow to surge to the podium.
This result extends Vonn’s commanding lead in the downhill standings to 144 points over Germany’s Emma Aicher. It’s her sixth podium in seven races overall this season (with two wins, one second, and two thirds in downhill alone), proving that age and adversity are no match for her relentless drive.
Fifteen years after her last appearance here—where she notched two wins and four runner-up finishes across various disciplines—Vonn admitted the course details had faded, but the electric atmosphere hadn’t. “I don’t really remember the track,” she said post-race, “but I do remember that the atmosphere was amazing and the people were amazing… They were singing songs about me. It was awesome. So I’m so happy to be back on the podium again under tough conditions.”
Delago, the 30-year-old Italian, delivered a historic moment for the host nation just weeks before the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. Her sister Nadia Delago, the 2022 Olympic downhill bronze medalist, finished 10th, adding to the family celebration.
Vonn’s performance comes as the countdown to the Olympic downhill in Cortina d’Ampezzo accelerates—where she has a storied history of success. With one more downhill ahead in Crans-Montana on January 30, the 41-year-old is not just competing; she’s dominating the narrative of resilience and return.
The streak continues. And the best may still be yet to come. 🏆⛷️
