Lindsey Vonn stunned the skiing world with her strong comeback at the St. Moritz World Cup, finishing 14th and declaring, "That was just the beginning." Vonn's return to competitive skiing, her first World Cup race after nearly six years, was not without skepticism, particularly due to concerns about her physical condition at the age of 40, which includes having partly replaced her knee.
After the race, Vonn spoke directly to the camera, saying, "The people have talked so much nonsense. I don’t care about it," a pointed response to critics who doubted her ability to compete again. These naysayers had raised alarms about the dangers of skiing at such an age, but Vonn, with her characteristic resilience, insisted, "I’m not ‘sooo’ old. My body is even stronger than my last years of my career. But of course, racing is dangerous, no matter if you’re 40, 30, or 18 years old." Her bold statement not only reflects her confidence but also challenges the doubts cast by others.
Before the race, there was speculation about how Vonn would perform. Yet her practice runs at Beaver Creek had looked promising, prompting excitement among fans. Austria's Nicole Schmidhofer, who was the 2017 Super-G World Champion, had earlier cautioned below race conditions saying, "as the course has been run on by 30 women, it’s quite different.” Vonn faced the race with the start number 31, racing on already worn snow conditions.
Despite losing time during the first segment of her run, she matched up against some of the fastest racers, making her competitive edge known particularly during the second and fourth sectors. "It was super fun, I had so much fun," Vonn exclaimed to reporters post-race, underscoring her love for skiing. Impressively, she claimed she was not taking any risks during this race, hinting at her potential and readiness to push harder. "Today was just the beginning," she said, which could be interpreted as both a promise and warning to her competitors.
Among those keeping close tabs on Vonn was her former competitor, Lara Gut-Behrami. When asked about her thoughts on Vonn's return, Gut-Behrami replied succinctly, "It doesn’t have to be everyone’s opinion," allowing her performance to speak volumes instead. Gut-Behrami herself competed fiercely, narrowly missing victory by just 18 hundredths of a second, landing second place behind Austria’s Cornelia Hütter.
Vonn's comeback was not just significant for her; it also symbolized hope for her fellow racers. Corinne Suter, who recently returned herself from recovering from a serious knee injury, credited Vonn for her encouragement during difficult times. "We write to each other often, especially recently. She messaged me immediately after my injury to support me," Suter revealed. They both showcase the uniting spirit of athletes and the community within skiing, reflecting the ties among competitors.
With the skiing world watching and commentators weighing Vonn's performance against her past glory, clear expectations emerged. Nicole Schmidhofer noted, "If she has even a slightly improved start number, it’s going to be explosive", cementing Vonn’s status as not just another skier on the circuit, but as someone whose return could shake up the competition.
Vonn's dedication and passion for the sport shine through her racing, and her presence offers inspiration to many. The upcoming speed races at St. Anton and Cortina will likely reveal even more about her capabilities. With her competitive spirit strong and the support of her fellow athletes, Vonn’s future races may well tell the tale of not just a comeback, but of rekindling the competitive fire she so famously dominated during her career.
