Lindsey Vonn has returned to the alpine ski circuit. At 40 and with a “new” knee, the American skied to 14th place on her comeback in the Super-G in St. Moritz. It was just the beginning: Vonn now wants to attack at the top again, as she did in the exclusive sports show -Interview revealed.
Lindsey Vonn beamed at the finish in St. Moritz. A “great feeling” That’s it, said the American about her impressive comeback in the Alpine Ski World Cup. After a break of almost six years, she immediately finished in the points in 14th place at the Super-G in St. Moritz. “I drove part of it slowly and part of it fast,” she smiled in the Sportschau interview. “I slowed down a bit to be safe. I really wanted to finish.” The 82-time World Cup winner added somewhat self-critically: “My technique is there, I just need to drive a little cleaner.”
Vonn wants to be on the podium
In the interview, the former speed queen made it clear that she was moving on to St. Moritz: “I know now that I can do it. I want to do all the races now.” Your big goal: “A podium. I don’t know when I’ll get there, but hopefully it won’t take that long.”
Vonn: “I’m not old”
Vonn’s World Cup comeback was heavily commented on in advance, including by Austrian ski heroes like Franz Klemm (“If she does that, she’ll have a complete shot!”) and Michaela Dorfmeister (“She should see a psychologist”). The German ski legend Markus Wasmeier spoke of “fooling”. It was repeatedly said that she was too old and that her damaged knee could not withstand the strain.
Vonn countered after her race: “I’m not old. Men are still skiing downhill at 42 or 43 years old. Nobody has tried it for women yet. It doesn’t mean we can’t do it,” said Vonn. And added: “I’m strong, my knee is stable. If someone says I can’t do it, it’s not my problem.”
Sports show expert Neureuther: “Great comeback”
Reactions to Vonn after the Super-G were overwhelmingly positive. Cornelia Hütter, the winner of St. Moritz, found words of appreciation: “Age doesn’t matter for Vonn. She will still have her brilliant feeling on the skis even when she’s 80.” And sports show expert Felix Neureuther was also pleased with their performance: “It’s a great comeback. It’s her decision that she comes back, so we’ll let her. Let’s just enjoy watching her.”
Vonn retired in 2019 after many injury-related setbacks. Until then, the speed queen had dominated the ski circuit. In her career she won 82 World Cups, became Olympic champion in 2010 and won World Cup gold twice, the overall World Cup four times and the downhill World Cup eight times.