Vonn Claims World Cup Downhill Victory Ahead of Olympics

Lindsey Vonn secured her 84th World Cup victory on Saturday in Zauchensee, Austria, winning the downhill race and solidifying her position as a strong contender for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The win, her second of the season, comes less than a month before the Olympic downhill race in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, and over a year into her remarkable return to competitive skiing.

Race Results

Vonn completed the course in 1 minute, 6.24 seconds, finishing ahead of Norway’s Kajsa Vickhoff Lie, who was 0.37 seconds behind. American Jacqueline Wiles took third place, 0.48 seconds off Vonn’s time, marking her fourth career World Cup podium finish.

Course Conditions and Strategy

The race was shortened due to heavy snow conditions, with Friday’s training run canceled. Vonn, starting with bib number 6, acknowledged she wasn’t a strong glider but focused on executing turns, utilizing the inside track and a more direct line to gain an advantage on the snowy course. She described her approach as “risking enough to win.”

Vonn’s Recent Performance and Comeback

Vonn officially qualified for the 2026 Winter Olympics in the downhill earlier this year. This victory follows a win in St. Moritz, Switzerland, last month, and she has secured a podium finish in every World Cup race across downhill and super-G this season. She currently leads the downhill standings. Her comeback began in December 2024, following a knee replacement that enabled her return to the sport after retiring in 2019. A second-place finish in a super-G race in Sun Valley, Idaho, last March marked her first World Cup podium in seven years.

Future Events and Competition

A super-G race is scheduled for Sunday in Zauchensee, where Vonn is expected to officially qualify for that discipline at the Olympics. Italian Federica Brignone, the previous season’s downhill champion, is also aiming to return to competition in time for the Olympics after sustaining a leg injury.

Vonn’s Career Achievements

Throughout her decorated career, Vonn has achieved 82 World Cup victories, three Olympic medals, and eight world championship medals. Her reaction to Saturday’s win was more reserved than her emotional celebration after winning in St. Moritz, reflecting a focused approach as the Olympics draw near.