Lindsey Vonn Shines in Epic World Cup Comeback

ST. ANTON, Austria -- In a thrilling return to the World Cup downhill scene, Lindsey Vonn showcased her legendary skills by finishing an impressive sixth in her first race in six years on Saturday. The 40-year-old American ski icon, widely regarded as the greatest downhill racer in women's World Cup history, stunned fans as she achieved a blistering speed of 77 mph in the early segments of the course.

Despite sporting the unfamiliar bib No. 32, which placed her outside the prestigious top 30, Vonn celebrated her achievement with open arms and a radiant smile after crossing the finish line just 0.58 seconds behind Italy's Federica Brignone, who claimed the lead. "That was fun!" Vonn exclaimed during an interview with Eurosport. "I still made a couple of mistakes. I know I can be faster." Indeed, Vonn has not begun a race with such a low bib number since she was just 17 years old, and she emphasized that after everything, it was a strong start to her return.

In a surprising twist, Vonn's position shifted from fifth to sixth when young Swiss athlete Malorie Blanc, racing in bib No. 46 and making her World Cup downhill debut, edged into second place. Blanc, only 21 years old and born after Vonn's career had already begun, was merely 0.07 seconds behind the race leader.

This race marked the second chapter of Vonn's remarkable comeback following surgery last year that replaced a damaged knee with a titanium implant. Three weeks earlier, she had finished 14th in a super-G event at St. Moritz, Switzerland. “I was a little bit happier with fifth place than sixth place,” Vonn humorously commented, showcasing her competitive spirit.

Throughout her illustrious career, Vonn has amassed a record 43 downhill wins out of a total of 82 World Cup victories. Her last World Cup downhill race prior to this comeback was in January 2019, where she placed ninth at Cortina d'Ampezzo, the same venue that will host women’s Alpine races during the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Vonn expressed growing confidence in her downhill abilities, noting, "I feel a little bit more confident and comfortable in downhill than I do in super-G. And I know this hill really well,” referring to the St. Anton course where she celebrated victory back in 2007.

The race conditions were ideal for Vonn's return, with clear skies and a balmy 18 degrees Celsius. However, due to heavy snowfall post-training, the Karl Schranz course was shortened to 1.2 miles.

Looking ahead, Vonn is set to compete in a super-G event on Sunday before heading to Cortina for next week's World Cup races, where she has enjoyed remarkable success with 12 wins. Fans eagerly anticipate whether Vonn can reclaim her spot among the elite as she defies the years and showcases her unwavering passion for the sport.

Could this be the iconic return we’ve been waiting for? Stay tuned!