Lindsey Vonn's St Moritz Downhill Effort Falls Just Shy of Perfection, But Her Resurgence Continues to Impress
At 41 years young, American skier Lindsey Vonn is rewriting the rules when it comes to defying age expectations in her sport. One day after shattering the record for the oldest woman to win a World Cup downhill race, Vonn came agonizingly close to achieving another historic victory on Saturday's challenging Corviglia course at St Moritz.
Trailing Italy's Sofia Goggia by mere seconds, Vonn seemed poised for another commanding performance as she surged ahead with a blistering speed. However, an awkward wobble off a jump midway down the course left her struggling to regain balance and momentum, ultimately costing her precious time on the lower section of the track.
The margin of defeat was a paltry 0.24 seconds, but the difference in speed between Vonn and Germany's Emma Aicher was stark. Despite being forced to make an awkward correction after losing her footing, Vonn still managed to post some of the fastest speeds in the field – a testament to her remarkable fitness and technique.
"I skied pretty well, but I was a little bit out of balance today," Vonn admitted in the aftermath of the race. "Yesterday was so emotional it took a lot of energy, and I didn't sleep that great. I know I can be better."
Vonn's resurgence since returning to competition last season has been nothing short of remarkable. With a partial knee replacement that left her racing with titanium implants in her right leg, many observers doubted she'd ever return to the World Cup. Yet, here she is – firmly entrenched atop the downhill standings and threatening to challenge for medals at this year's Milan-Cortina Olympics.
Aicher, meanwhile, has cemented her status as one of the tour's most versatile skiers with a third World Cup victory – her second in downhill. The 22-year-old's consistency and adaptability are traits that will serve her well in the lead-up to the Olympics, where Vonn is also expected to be a major contender.
The stage is now set for an electrifying finale to the St Moritz weekend on Sunday, with Vonn facing off against teammate Mikaela Shiffrin – the most successful women's World Cup skier of all time.
At 41 years young, American skier Lindsey Vonn is rewriting the rules when it comes to defying age expectations in her sport. One day after shattering the record for the oldest woman to win a World Cup downhill race, Vonn came agonizingly close to achieving another historic victory on Saturday's challenging Corviglia course at St Moritz.
Trailing Italy's Sofia Goggia by mere seconds, Vonn seemed poised for another commanding performance as she surged ahead with a blistering speed. However, an awkward wobble off a jump midway down the course left her struggling to regain balance and momentum, ultimately costing her precious time on the lower section of the track.
The margin of defeat was a paltry 0.24 seconds, but the difference in speed between Vonn and Germany's Emma Aicher was stark. Despite being forced to make an awkward correction after losing her footing, Vonn still managed to post some of the fastest speeds in the field – a testament to her remarkable fitness and technique.
"I skied pretty well, but I was a little bit out of balance today," Vonn admitted in the aftermath of the race. "Yesterday was so emotional it took a lot of energy, and I didn't sleep that great. I know I can be better."
Vonn's resurgence since returning to competition last season has been nothing short of remarkable. With a partial knee replacement that left her racing with titanium implants in her right leg, many observers doubted she'd ever return to the World Cup. Yet, here she is – firmly entrenched atop the downhill standings and threatening to challenge for medals at this year's Milan-Cortina Olympics.
Aicher, meanwhile, has cemented her status as one of the tour's most versatile skiers with a third World Cup victory – her second in downhill. The 22-year-old's consistency and adaptability are traits that will serve her well in the lead-up to the Olympics, where Vonn is also expected to be a major contender.
The stage is now set for an electrifying finale to the St Moritz weekend on Sunday, with Vonn facing off against teammate Mikaela Shiffrin – the most successful women's World Cup skier of all time.
she's literally defying age and gravity at 41 ! 
i mean, shattering records and almost winning downhill is totes on point . her titanium implants dont seem to be holding her back at all lol , she's still skiing like a pro . i think its so cool that she's been able to make a comeback like this - many ppl doubted her abilities after her knee op. now hes/ she's right up there with the best of them . can't wait 2 c her compete agen on sunday 
i mean who needs a full knee when you've got determination and skill on your side? vonn's resurgence is literally inspiring me to get back into skiing 
a 0.24 second loss is insane, and those titanium implants are basically just a minor detail 
anyway, can't wait to see what the rest of the season brings for lindsey and mikaela - it's gonna be an epic showdown! 
. 41 and crushing it on the slopes. Her determination is inspiring 
. Vonn's resurgence is a reminder that age isn't everything, especially when you're chasing your passion 
.
she's like the ultimate comeback story - I mean who else can say they're out of their body with titanium implants in their leg and still killing it on the slopes? 
can't wait to see what Sunday brings - Vonn vs Shiffrin is gonna be EPIC! 
Aicher's got game too, but I think Vonn's got a few tricks up her sleeve. Bring on the Milan-Cortina Olympics, this is gonna be epic! 
. I love how humble she is about it too - she knows she can be better and is already looking forward to Sunday's showdown 
. Mikaela Shiffrin's gonna give her a run for her money, but Vonn's form has been so consistent lately... this could get interesting 
. I mean, she's not perfect, but she's close enough to keep us on the edge of our seats. That wobble on the course was super unlucky, but you can't blame her for trying 
. I'm both excited and nervous about this upcoming finale against Mikaela Shiffrin on Sunday 
. Will Vonn keep pushing the limits, or will someone else snatch the spotlight? The suspense is killing me 
!
! And she's still managing to post some of the fastest speeds in the field? 
. Sunday's finale is gonna be EPIC, can't wait to see it! 
That's just crazy! But I gotta give her props, she's still putting out some serious speed and technique. And don't even get me started on Emma Aicher, she's literally the complete package right now 
. Can we have a rematch or something? This is getting good! 
. Gotta give it up for Emma Aicher too though - she's on fire! 
.
I'm getting so frustrated with Lindsey Vonn's inconsistency. She's clearly still got it in her, but one day she's dominating and the next she's wobbling like a newborn giraffe 
. It's like she's still trying to find her groove after that partial knee replacement. And don't even get me started on the 0.24 sec margin of defeat... that's just brutal 
. I mean, Emma Aicher was on fire! But seriously, Lindsey Vonn is an inspiration to anyone who's ever felt like they're losing their edge as they age. She's proof that with hard work and determination, you can still be a force to be reckoned with in your 40s... but can she please just get consistent for once?! 
she's literally defying age expectations and rewriting the rules in skiing 
and that comeback story with the titanium implants is INSPIRING 
vonn vs aicher is gonna be EPIC on sunday can't wait to see who comes out on top 
and can't wait to see the milan cortina olympics it's gonna be epic 
I mean, 41 and still flying down the slopes like a pro? That's mental endurance right there 
. I mean, who needs to retire when you can rewrite the rules of your sport? 
And that partial knee replacement didn't even slow her down – titanium implants and all