Mikaela Shiffrin led a wave of admiration from the alpine skiing world as Lindsey Vonn, at 41, stormed to a historic victory in the opening women’s downhill of the 2025-26 FIS Alpine World Cup season, marking her first win in nearly eight years and becoming the oldest woman ever to triumph at the elite level.
Shiffrin, the all-time World Cup wins leader with 104 victories, captured the emotion of the moment in a heartfelt tribute, calling it “what an incredible show of how far you can climb with hard work, determination, patience, and so much passion. Huge congratulations Lindsey Vonn.”067099,7b8e31,b5836f
Vonn’s blistering run of 1:29.63 on the demanding Corviglia course left rivals in her wake, finishing nearly a full second ahead of Austria’s Magdalena Egger (second) and Mirjam Puchner (third). Starting conservatively, the American legend – equipped with a titanium knee from multiple surgeries – unleashed ferocious speed in the lower sections, hitting over 120 km/h and performing her signature “night-night” celebration borrowed from NBA star Stephen Curry.
“This almost doesn’t feel real,” Vonn said, tears in her eyes. “I’m trying to enjoy every moment – this is my last weekend racing in St. Moritz ever.” The triumph, her 83rd career World Cup win and 44th in downhill, extends her discipline record and positions her as a serious contender for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics in nearby Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Shiffrin, who skipped today’s downhill to prepare for Sunday’s super-G – her first speed event in nearly two years – has long idolized Vonn, the pioneer who dominated speed disciplines during Shiffrin’s early career. Their combined 187 World Cup victories represent American skiing supremacy, and Shiffrin’s words highlighted the mutual respect that has defined their relationship.b0bb49,0fb5bb
The day wasn’t without somber notes: Both stars sent support to Swiss Olympian Michelle Gisin after her severe training crash, with Vonn and Shiffrin among those rallying the community.
As the weekend continues with another downhill Saturday and super-G Sunday, Vonn eyes back-to-back wins, while anticipation builds for a potential head-to-head with Shiffrin. In a sport where gravity tests limits, Vonn’s comeback reminds us that passion and grit can defy the odds – a sentiment Shiffrin so eloquently echoed.
