The world of downhill skiing is once again witnessing the reign of its queen, Lindsey Vonn. At the age of 41, Vonn has outpaced her competitors to become the oldest winner of a World Cup race, a record since the circuit’s inception in 1967. Remarkably, Lindsey Vonn wins World Cup downhill at age 41 to start her Olympic season, marking her first victory in nearly eight years and a triumphant return after a five-year retirement.
Lindsey Vonn’s Historic Victory
On Friday, Vonn raced to an astonishingly swift victory in a downhill race at St. Moritz, achieving her first win since her comeback. Despite having titanium implants in her right knee, Vonn seized the lead, finishing a staggering 1.16 seconds ahead of Austria’s Mirjam Puchner. It was a remarkable display of resilience, especially considering Vonn was trailing by 0.61 after the first two time checks at the Swiss resort.
Her lead was later trimmed to 0.98 seconds when Magdalena Egger, another Austrian racer, took second place. Despite this, Vonn’s victory margin remained substantial in downhill terms.
Lindsey Vonn’s Emotional Reaction
Following her exceptional performance, Vonn expressed her elation to Swiss broadcaster RTS, describing the day as “amazing” and confessing to feeling “pretty emotional”. Her victory was not only a personal triumph but also marked an ideal beginning to her Olympic season, with her last victory dating back to a downhill race in March 2018 at Are, Sweden.
A Stellar Partnership
Vonn’s remarkable comeback can be partially attributed to her partnership with new coach Aksel Lund Svindal, a men’s downhill champion who won the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic title. The synergy between the two is seemingly paying off, with Vonn’s Friday run demonstrating her superior skills and speed. Despite initially losing time to Puchner at the top half of the course, Vonn managed to surpass everyone at the subsequent speed checks, even touching 119 kph, and posted the fastest time splits for the second half of the race.
Setting Age Records
Vonn’s victory at St. Moritz also set new age records. She is now the oldest winner of a men’s or women’s race, surpassing the record previously held by 37-year-old Didier Cuche. Prior to Vonn’s victory, the women’s record was held by Federica Brignone, who was 34 years and 7 months old when she won a super-G race at Kvitfjell, Norway.
Furthermore, until Vonn’s recent success, no woman aged 35 or over had ever secured a podium finish at a World Cup race. Vonn has not only broken this record but also registered a points-scoring result in downhill, another first for a woman aged 36 or above.
Looking Ahead
With her eyes set on the Milan Cortina Winter Games in February, Vonn’s impressive performance at St. Moritz makes her a strong contender for another downhill victory. Her illustrious career has seen her amass 83 race victories across all World Cup disciplines, including 44 in the downhill category, a testament to her dominance in the sport.
However, despite her triumphant return, Vonn is planning to retire at the end of the season in March. While her retirement will mark the end of an era, her legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire and influence the world of downhill skiing.
