Lindsey Vonn delivers another masterclass with World Cup downhill victory at Zauchensee

Lindsey Vonn has done it again, delivering another emphatic reminder of her greatness by claiming victory in the World Cup downhill at Zauchensee. The win marked yet another remarkable chapter in a career that continues to defy expectations long after many believed it had reached its conclusion.

It took 2,830 days for Vonn to secure her first World Cup victory after coming out of retirement, ending a long wait that stretched back to her final pre-retirement triumph in 2018. This latest success, however, came far quicker. Less than a month after her previous win, the American star powered her way down the snowy Austrian slopes to clock a winning time of 1:06.24, proving once again that she remains a dominant force in alpine skiing.

Conditions at Zauchensee were far from straightforward. Heavy snowfall and a developing track made early start numbers particularly challenging, and Vonn admitted afterward that she initially felt her chances were slim. Starting sixth, she believed the lack of a clear racing line would force her into taking significant risks. Ultimately, that aggressive approach paid off. Vonn committed fully to her chosen line, attacked the course with confidence, and executed her run exactly as planned—an achievement she later described as the most satisfying part of the day.

Norway’s Kajsa Vickhoff Lie finished second, just 0.37 seconds behind Vonn, securing her ninth career World Cup podium and her second at Zauchensee. American Jacqueline Wiles completed the podium in third place, finishing 0.48 seconds off the lead. It marked Wiles’ fourth career World Cup podium and her second at the Austrian venue, following a similar result back in 2017. The timing of the performance could hardly have been better, as it strengthens her case for Olympic selection.

The race was an outstanding day overall for the United States team. Three American skiers finished inside the top 10, four placed in the top 15, and five ended the day in the top 20. Notably, it was the first time since 2018 that two U.S. athletes shared a World Cup downhill podium. Fittingly, that last occasion also featured Vonn and Wiles standing together among the top three. The result carried added significance given that the race was held at a venue connected to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Breezy Johnson, the reigning downhill world champion, finished seventh despite continuing to manage a back injury that has hampered her training since October. Limited preparation time has made it difficult for Johnson to find peak form, but her performance suggested steady progress. Fellow Americans Allison Mollin and Keely Cashman also produced solid efforts, finishing 14th and 18th respectively.

For Vonn, the victory was yet another milestone in a career filled with them. It was her 84th World Cup win, moving her within just two victories of Ingemar Stenmark’s legendary total of 86. Should she surpass that mark, Vonn would sit second on the all-time World Cup wins list, behind only Mikaela Shiffrin. Her dominance in downhill racing is already unmatched, with 45 career downhill victories—more than any skier, male or female, in history.

The 41-year-old’s resurgence has been one of the sport’s most compelling stories. Last season, Vonn struggled to produce the consistent results she wanted, but a second-place finish at the 2024–25 World Cup finals in Sun Valley hinted that something special might still be possible. That promise turned into reality at the start of the 2025–26 season in St. Moritz, where she stunned the skiing world by standing atop the podium once again, overcome with emotion as she celebrated a triumphant return.

Vonn carried that momentum forward, finishing second the following day and fourth the day after. Her form remained strong a week later in Val d’Isère, where she collected third- and fourth-place finishes in a pair of speed events. A four-week break between Val d’Isère and Zauchensee raised questions about whether time away from racing might dull her sharpness, but instead it seemed to enhance it. Any concerns about rust were quickly erased by her commanding performance in Austria.

The win allowed Vonn to retain the red bib as the leader of the downhill standings, extending her advantage in the discipline. She also climbed to sixth place in the overall World Cup rankings, with the possibility of moving as high as third should she deliver another strong showing in the super-G.

When Vonn decided to return to competitive skiing following successful knee-replacement surgery, her main objective was clear: to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo. The Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre holds special significance for her, as it is the site of 12 World Cup victories—more than any other skier has achieved there. Based on her performances so far this season, it is increasingly clear that Vonn will be far more than a ceremonial participant at those Games.

Through six races this winter, she has demonstrated that she is not only capable of contending for medals, but is arguably the clear favourite for downhill gold—and potentially more. Vonn herself has spoken confidently about her physical condition, explaining that her body is responding exactly as she hoped it would. She described feeling strong, versatile, and in control, capable of adapting her turns and lines as needed. For an athlete who has battled injuries throughout her career, that sense of physical freedom has been transformative.

While Vonn celebrated, the race also brought heartbreak. Austrian skier Magdalena Egger crashed after the second sector, prompting a lengthy interruption as medical teams attended to her. Although she initially attempted to ski away, she was ultimately transported down the mountain by ski patrol. Later reports confirmed severe knee injuries that will require surgery, ending her season and extinguishing her Olympic hopes. The injury was another blow for the Austrian team, already dealing with the absence of Katharina Liensberger.

The focus now shifts to Sunday’s super-G at Zauchensee, where Vonn and the rest of the world’s top speed skiers will be back in action. With her confidence soaring and her form undeniable, Lindsey Vonn continues to show that her remarkable story is far from finished.