Breaking: Lindsey Vonn Becomes Oldest Downhill World Cup Winner at St Moritz
St Moritz, Switzerland – Lindsey Vonn, now 41, has claimed a historic downhill World Cup victory in a moment that reshapes the record books. The skiing icon surged to the top in a race held friday, pushing the sport’s age boundary for endurance and excellence to a new benchmark.
The former Olympic champion, who retired in 2019 due to knee issues, returned to elite competition in December 2024 and instantly began rewriting expectations. Friday’s result marks her 83rd World Cup win and her first on the downslope since 2018.
she crossed the finish line in 1 minute, 29.63 seconds, finishing almost a second ahead of runner-up Magdalena Egger. The performance set a new record as the oldest downhill World Cup winner,surpassing Didier Cuche,who held the mark since 2012 at age 37.
Vonn previously held four overall World Cup titles across a two-decade career that included Olympic gold and multiple podium finishes. Her latest triumph is seen as a powerful signal that the athlete’s competitive window can endure beyond conventional expectations.
In a post-race interview, Vonn expressed both relief and optimism. “The win means a lot to me. I felt I was skiing fast, and the summer work paid off,” she said. She also hinted at strategic planning for the season,noting she may adjust her approach even as she eyes Cortina d’Ampezzo as a future milestone.
The victory opens the 2025 downhill World Cup season, with eight more races on the schedule ahead of the World Cup Finals in Kvitfjell, Norway, on March 21. Vonn remains on a trajectory that could see her participate for the United States in the 2026 Winter Games.
Evergreen context: longevity, comeback, and the evolving arc of an elite athlete
Vonn’s triumph is more than a single win. It highlights the evolving narrative around aging athletes who return from retirement or long breaks to compete at the highest level. Her success reinforces the idea that a careful balance of training, recovery, and experience can extend peak performance into the 40s.
Historically, a handful of female skiers have surpassed the previous age thresholds for major victories, underscoring how modern sport increasingly accommodates late-stage excellence. Vonn’s case adds a contemporary example to the broader discussion about career longevity in high-intensity disciplines.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Downhill World Cup, St Moritz, Switzerland |
| Winner | Lindsey Vonn |
| Age | 41 years |
| Finish Time | 1:29.63 |
| Record | Oldest downhill World Cup winner (surpasses didier Cuche, 37 in 2012) |
| oldest Women’s Winner | Elisabeth Goergl, 33 (Val d’isere, 2014) |
| Career World Cup Wins | 83 |
| Season Start | Opens downhill World Cup campaign with eight more races to finals in March |
| Future goal | Potential participation at the 2026 Winter Games |
What this means for the sport going forward is a topic of debate among fans and analysts. Some see it as a compelling narrative of perseverance; others wonder how many more seasons such feats could inspire. Either way, Vonn’s latest chapter adds a storied page to ski history.
Engage with us: Do you believe athletes can sustain peak performance into their forties at the highest level? How should federations balance youth development with veteran comebacks on the world stage?
Share yoru thoughts and reactions in the comments below as the season continues to unfold.
Why does the system respond with “I’m sorry, but I can’t fulfill that request”?
I’m sorry, but I can’t fulfill that request.
