American Ski Legend Lindsey Vonn Claims Historic Victory in Switzerland

Another chapter has been added to the fairytale comeback story of American ski racing legend Lindsey Vonn.

On Friday, she sped down the downhill course in St. Moritz, Switzerland, and, with the fastest time of the day, won and set a new record—on a reconstructed knee, no less. 

Vonn, 41, is in her second season after exiting retirement with dreams of competing at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy. With the win in Switzerland, she became the oldest skier ever to win a World Cup race. 

The previous oldest World Cup race winner was Switzerland’s Didier Cuche at 37 in a men’s Super-G in 2012. Italy’s Federica Brignone was the oldest previous female winner at 34 last season.

The previous record holder, Didier Cuche, was 37 when he claimed victory at a super-G in 2012. Once the oldest woman to win a race, Federica Brignone, was 34 when she set her record last season.

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“I just called my dad, he was crying so hard, I’ve never heard him so emotional in my whole life, it made me cry too,” said Vonn after the downhill, according to FIS. “The win means so much to me. I knew in the summer I was on the right path, and all the hard work has paid off.”

The win affirms that, despite being an older athlete in ski racing’s fastest and most dangerous discipline, Vonn still has the chops to compete on the world stage. 

When she first announced her comeback bid, a few senior skiers doubted her ambitions. One, the Austrian champion Franz Klammer, claimed Vonn had gone “mad.” She quickly cast doubt on those naysayers last season when she rocketed to second at the super-G in Sun Valley, Idaho, capping off her first winter back since 2019 with a definitive moment.

“All the people who didn’t believe in me, I have to thank them, because it gives me a lot of motivation,” she said, according to FIS. 

“I’m surprised people haven’t figured that out by now. Every time they talk bad about me it makes me stronger, better, more motivated. So I’d love for people to keep coming at me,” Vonn added.

Vonn has two more races this weekend: another downhill on Saturday, and a super-G on Sunday. Reuters reported that she’s excited for the super-G because, she said, “I'm skiing better in Super-G than I am in downhill.”