The famous American won the St. Moritz downhill this Friday. A year after coming out of retirement. Seven years after his last World Cup success. Winter must lead her with ambition to the Milan-Cortina Olympics.
Boldness, virtuosity and tenacity rewarded. At 41, Lindsey Vonn won the Saint-Moritz downhill in Switzerland this Friday, the 83e victory (the 44e downhill) of his prestigious World Cup career. She achieved her first success since March 2018 (downhill in Are in Sweden), beating, by a considerable margin, the Austrians Magdalena Egger (24 years old; at 0”98) and Mirjam Puchner (33 years old; at 1”16).
To complete his legend. That of an indestructible. Of an eternal one. American Lindsey Vonn is an alpine skiing icon. After winning his first World Cup victory (in downhill in Lake Louise, Canada in 2005), after having collected all the successes (28 victories in Super G in the World Cup, 4 Giants, 2 slaloms, 2 combined; 4 large globes in the general classification of the World Cup; 8 small globes in downhill; 5 in the Super G; 3 in the combined; 8 medals at the world championships, including 2 gold; 3 medals at the Olympics, including 1 gold…), suffered from falls, injuries and operations (notably on her right knee), the American who retired in 2019 decided that she still wanted to experience the thrill of competition. Not to make up the numbers. To win.
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The one who shared Tiger Woods’ life recently explained in L’Équipe the reasons for this comeback, after a final operation on her right knee in April 2024: “First of all, I wouldn’t have even tried to come back if I couldn’t be competitive. Of course, I love skiing and have always had a lot of fun doing it. But I’m not coming back for fun. I’m not on vacation. I don’t spend six hours a day at the gym for leisure. I work because I believe I have an incredible opportunity to achieve something unique and not go to the Olympics as a spectator. »
The American returned to the slopes a year ago, in Saint-Moritz, a resort which has often inspired her. Right away (14e you Super G, 6e of the downhill), she went on to land at the foot of the Super G podium in Sankt-Anton, before completing her comeback winter with three places in the Top 10 (including a podium, 2e of the Sun Valley Super G). Waiting for better…
She has one last challenge in mind: the Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo (February 6-22). Lindsey Vonn long held the record for World Cup victories, before being overtaken by her compatriot Mikaela Shiffrin (104). She, who dreamed of changing the regulations to compete with skiers, did everything to give herself every chance of succeeding in her incredible bet, by working for example with the Norwegian Aksel-Lund Svindal (Olympic downhill champion in 2010 and 2018) for ski adjustments. Her spectacular success in opening her winter will confirm her on the path set out, the quest announced.
She, who is two months older than LeBron James, the NBA star and four months older than the footballer Ronaldo, still wants to be in the present. For speed, intoxication, pleasure. She has already known glory. The thrill is a formidable magnet. His will and his longevity are an example.
Lindsey Vonn’s Olympic gold medal dates from Vancouver in 2010. The American will be one of the attractions of the winter and the Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. A success story that sport loves…
