Lindsey Vonn made an impressive return to alpine skiing at the age of 40. Competing in St. Anton, Austria, she finished sixth in her first World Cup downhill race in nearly six years. The next day, she followed that up with a fourth-place finish in the Super-G. This makes her the oldest woman to finish in the top four of a World Cup race.
Meanwhile, her American teammate, Lauren Macuga, had an amazing Super-G performance, winning her first World Cup title with a time of 1:17.51. She crossed the finish line in disbelief, 0.68 seconds ahead of Austria’s Stephanie Venier, with Italy’s Federica Brignone taking third place. “I can’t believe it. This is a dream,” Macuga said, still riding the high of her victory.
Macuga, only 22, has quickly climbed the ranks of U.S. skiing since she took up the sport at 16. She aims to make the Olympic team for the 2026 Games and has already scored several top-10 finishes this season, including a personal best of fourth in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
On her comeback weekend, Vonn dealt with challenging conditions in the Super-G. She nearly lost her balance at one point but remained focused, finishing in 1:18.75, just 0.32 seconds shy of the podium. With 28 Super-G World Cup wins under her belt, Vonn continues to push for her 47th podium finish.
After crossing the finish line, Vonn acknowledged the cheering crowd, showing her excitement about returning to competitive skiing. In her previous two races, she finished 14th and sixth, making her Olympic dreams more attainable.
In the downhill on Saturday, Vonn showcased her skills, finishing in 1:16.66. She was close to a top-five finish, but a remarkable second-place run by 20-year-old Malorie Blanc from Switzerland stole the spotlight in her first World Cup outing. Brignone won that race, marking her first career World Cup downhill win.
Vonn’s return to the World Cup was made possible through a wild-card entry due to her past achievements. This allowed her to compete, but starting lower in the rankings added to the challenge. “I haven’t raced outside of the top 30 since I was a teenager,” Vonn noted, recognizing the difficulty of her position.
Vonn is celebrated as one of the most successful American skiers, with 43 of her 82 World Cup wins in downhill, including her Olympic gold medal from Vancouver in 2010. After retiring in 2019 due to knee injuries, she underwent a knee replacement last year, which has allowed her to return pain-free.
As the World Cup makes its way to the 2026 Olympic venue in Cortina d’Ampezzo next week, Vonn will be there, eager to continue her journey back to the top of the sport.
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