Lindsey Vonn Returns to World Cup Circuit, Finishes 14th in St. Moritz
SPORTS
Lindsey in action in saibt moritz Fabrice Coffrini AFP Via Getty Images
Lindsey Vonn is back in action! The 2010 Olympic downhill champion made her highly anticipated return to the World Cup circuit on Saturday, finishing 14th in the super-G race at St. Moritz, Switzerland. This marked her first World Cup race in nearly six years following her retirement in February 2019 due to a string of injuries. Vonn’s comeback follows a partial knee replacement surgery she underwent in April.
Vonn clocked in 1.18 seconds behind race winner Cornelia Huetter of Austria and posted the second-fastest time among U.S. women, with teammate Lauren Macuga finishing in seventh place. Vonn is set to compete in another super-G on Sunday at the same venue—a course she knows well, having claimed five victories and five additional podium finishes there in her illustrious career.
At 40 years old, Vonn remains one of the most decorated ski racers of all time. Her 82 World Cup wins are the third-highest in history, trailing only Mikaela Shiffrin and Ingemar Stenmark. In addition to her Olympic gold in Vancouver, she’s captured four overall World Cup titles. However, her career was repeatedly derailed by injuries, starting with a devastating crash in 2013 that resulted in a torn ACL, MCL, and tibial plateau fracture. Despite pushing through multiple setbacks, Vonn retired in 2019, citing the toll on her body.
“I kept going through all the injuries because I love ski racing,” Vonn said recently. “No injury ever held me back until it finally broke me.”
Initially convinced her racing days were over, Vonn found new hope after her knee replacement alleviated her pain. “The passion for skiing never went away; I just wasn’t physically able to do it anymore,” she said. “Now that I have the chance to do what I love, why not try? Life is short, and I want to live every day to the fullest.”
After announcing her comeback in mid-November, Vonn quickly returned to training with the U.S. Ski Team. She earned her spot on the World Cup circuit after strong performances at the FIS Fall Festival in early December. Though she hoped to make her return at the Beaver Creek races, time constraints led her to debut in St. Moritz instead—a venue where she has enjoyed immense success in the past, with her last win there being a super-G in 2015.
Vonn’s return is a testament to her resilience and love for the sport. Fans are eagerly watching to see how this chapter of her legendary career unfolds.