Lindsey Vonn wins World Cup downhill at age 41, five years after retiring
Lindsey Vonn ST MORITZ, SWITZERLAND - DECEMBER 12: Lindsey Vonn of Team United States celebrates during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Downhill on December 12, 2025 in St Moritz, Switzerland. (Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) (Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
ByCox Media Group National Content Desk
Lindsey Vonn has proven she still has what it takes to compete.
After a titanium knee implant and being retired for five years, Vonn won the World Cup downhill competition at St. Moritz.
She had been trailing 0.61 after the first two time checks, The Associated Press reported.
But then she powered back and was 1.16 seconds ahead of Mirjam Puchner of Austria. The lead was cut slightly to 0.98 of a second with Puchner’s teammate Magdalena Egger taking second.
At one point, she sped down the hill at 74 mph.
“It was an amazing day, I couldn’t be happier, pretty emotional,” Vonn said after the race, according to RTS. “I felt good this summer but I wasn’t sure how fast I was. I think today, I guess I know now how fast I am.”
The race was Vonn’s first win since March 2018, the AP reported.
She hopes to earn another gold medal at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in February.
Her run on Friday was one for the record books, with her now being the oldest World Cup winner. The previous record was held by Didier Cuche, who was 37 when he won a men’s Super-G in 2012. The oldest female winner was Federica Brigonone, who won last season, Reuters reported.
0 of 29
Lindsey Vonn through the years 13 NOV 2001: Lindsey Kildow (Vonn) of the USA Ski team poses for a portrait during the USSA Media Day in Beaver Creek, Colorado. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr/ALLSPORT (Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years 29 Nov 2001 : Lindsey Kildow (Vonn) of the USA during the Women's Downhill of the 2001 Ski World Cup at Lake Louise, Canada . Mandatory Credit: Adam Pretty/Allsport (Adam Pretty/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years LAKE LOUISE, CANADA - DECEMBER 3: Lindsey Kildow (Vonn) of USA in action during the women's downhill competition in the FIS Ski World Cup December 3, 2004 in Lake Louise, Canada. (Photo by Agence Zoom/Getty Images) (Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years BORMIO, ITALY - JANUARY 30: Lindsey Kildow (Vonn) of USA in action during her ninth place finish in the Women's Super G at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2005 on January 30, 2005 in Bormio, Italy. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years SAN SICARIO, ITALY - FEBRUARY 27: Lindsey Kildow of the USA competes during the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup - Women's Combined Downhill on February 27, 2005 in San Sicario, Italy. (Photo by Agence Zoom/Getty Images) (Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years ASPEN, CO - DECEMBER 11: Lindsey Kildow (Vonn) of the USA recovers from a bad turn and managed to stay on course during her second run on her way to 30th place in the FIS Alpine Skiing Women's World Cup Slalom Race on December 11, 2005 in Aspen, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years VAL D'ISERE, FRANCE - DECEMBER 17: Lindsey C. Kildow (Vonn) of the USA skis to win the Women's Downhill Alpine Ski World Cup on December 17, 2005 in Val d'Isere, France. (Photo by Agence Zoom/Getty Images) (Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years LAKE LOUISE, CANADA - DECEMBER 01: Lindsey Vonn of the U.S. celebrates taking first place during the Womens FIS Skiing World Cup on December 01, 2007 in Lake Louise, Canada. She took first place. (Photo by Agence Zoom/Getty Images) (Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years WHISTLER, CANADA - FEBRUARY 22: Lindsey Vonn of the USA gives her husband Thomas Vonn a hug after she captured the Women's overall Downhill title at the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup Downhill on February 22, 2008 in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. Vonn finished the race in second place with a time of 1:45.31. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images) (Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years BORMIO, ITALY - MARCH 13: Linsey Vonn of the United States takes 2nd place during the Alpine FIS Ski World Cup Women's Super G on March 13, 2008 in Bormio, Italy. (Photo by Agence Zoom/Getty Images) (Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years WHISTLER, BC - FEBRUARY 17: Lindsey Vonn of the United States reacts after competing during the Alpine Skiing Ladies Downhill on day 6 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 17, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years WHISTLER CREEKSIDE, CANADA - FEBRUARY 17: Lindsey Vonn of the USA takes the Gold Medal during the Women's Alpine Skiing Downhill on Day 6 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games on February 17, 2010 in Whistler Creekside, Canada. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) (Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years WHISTLER CREEKSIDE, CANADA - FEBRUARY 20: Lindsey Vonn of the USA wins the bronze medal during the Women's Alpine Skiing Super-G on Day 9 of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games on February 20, 2010 in Whistler Creekside, Canada. (Photo by Francis Bompard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) (Francis Bompard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years WHISTLER, BC - FEBRUARY 20: Lindsey Vonn of the United States competes in the women's alpine skiing Super-G on day nine of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Creekside on February 20, 2010 in Whistler, Canada. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years SCHLADMING, AUSTRIA - MARCH 14: Lindsey Vonn of the USA takes the Overall Downhill World Cup globe during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women's Downhill on March 14, 2012 in Schladming, Austria. (Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) (Alain Grosclaude/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years SCHLADMING, AUSTRIA - FEBRUARY 05: Lindsey Vonn of the United States of America is airlifted off the mountain after crashing while competing in the Women's Super G event during the Alpine FIS Ski World Championships on February 5, 2013 in Schladming, Austria. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years AUGUSTA, GA - APRIL 08: Tiger Woods of the United States waits a green as his girlfriend Lindsey Vonn, son Charlie and daughter Sam look on during the Par 3 Contest prior to the start of the 2015 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 8, 2015 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years ST MORITZ, SWITZERLAND - FEBRUARY 05: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white and image has been altered: adjustments to highlights and shadows.) Lindsey Vonn of USA poses after a press conference at Hotel Reine Victoria ahead of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships on February 5, 2017 in St Moritz, Switzerland. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 19: Lindsey Vonn of the United States competes during the Ladies' Downhill on day 12 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Jeongseon Alpine Centre on February 21, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 19: Lindsey Vonn of the United States competes during the Ladies' Downhill on day 12 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Jeongseon Alpine Centre on February 21, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 21: Bronze medallist Lindsey Vonn of the United States celebrates during the victory ceremony for the Ladies' Downhill on day 12 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Jeongseon Alpine Centre on February 21, 2018 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years ARE, SWEDEN - MARCH 14: Lindsey Vonn of USA competes during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Finals Men's and Women's Downhill on March 14, 2018 in Are, Sweden. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images) (Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 12: Lindsey Vonn attends A Year In TIME at The Plaza Hotel on December 12, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for TIME) (Mike Coppola/Getty Images for TIME)
Lindsey Vonn through the years HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JULY 11: Lindsey Vonn attends the 2024 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 11, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Lindsey Vonn through the years PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 26: Former Alpine Ski Racer Lindsey Vonn attends the red carpet ahead of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Sign Up
