Lindsey Vonn cemented her remarkable comeback in style with her first World Cup win since 2018 in the women’s downhill at St Moritz on Friday.
The 41-year-old American rolled back the years to start a season that will lead to the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, claiming her 83rd career World Cup win 20 years after her first to become the oldest winner of all time on the circuit.
The Minnesota-born veteran rejoined the US team last season after retiring due to injury in 2019.
Last season she became the oldest woman to secure a podium place in the World Cup when she finished second in the Sun Valley super-G.
After going one better on Friday she punched the crisp Swiss air with delight and celebrated taking her career haul at St Moritz to six victories before her phone started buzzing with congratulatory calls, including a long and emotional chat with her father back in the United States.
The unstoppable Vonn has teamed up with retired Norwegian double Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal this season to give her the best possible chance of adding to her Olympic medal haul next year.
“We worked really hard,” Vonn told TNT.
“Not just me, the whole team. I hired Aksel, I knew I was skiing fast, you never know until the first race, but I think I skied faster than I thought.”
Lund Svindal commented: “I knew we were well prepared and fight for the win, it’s unbelievable, she can be so clean, that’s where she can pull away from the field.
“Surprised? A little, but mostly respect,” he added.
Setting off 16th of the 61 racers, Vonn flashed down the circuit, posting the quickest times in each of the sectors.
The American, who has four overall World Cup titles in the bank, crossed the line in 1min 29.63sec to lay down a stark reminder to her rivals that she will be a force to be reckoned with at the Olympics in February.
She had a staggering cushion of nearly a second over second-placed Austrian Magdelena Egger, who at 24 is almost half the age of Vonn, with another Austrian, Mirjam Puchner, third and 1.16 sec behind.
And this landmark performance puts her bang in contention to add to her Olympic downhill gold at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.
She will be back on the St Moritz slope on Saturday for another World Cup downhill.
“I’m going to try to get some sleep tonight and get ready for tomorrow,” she said.
“I’m actually getting excited for the super-G (on Sunday at St Moritz), because skiing super-G better than downhill.
“I’m going to enjoy this day and this weekend.”
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