Olympic momentum builds for Lindsey Vonn as Emma Aicher claims Italy World Cup super-G

Lindsey Vonn’s drive toward another Olympic appearance gained further momentum in Italy as a new star, Emma Aicher, announced herself on the World Cup stage with a breakthrough victory in the women’s super-G at Tarvisio. The race delivered a compelling blend of experience and emerging talent, underlining both Vonn’s remarkable consistency and the shifting dynamics of women’s alpine skiing as the Winter Olympics rapidly approach.

The four-time overall World Cup champion produced another elite performance by finishing second on Sunday, continuing an extraordinary run of results in the speed disciplines. At 41, Vonn once again proved she remains a formidable force, securing her seventh podium finish in eight downhill and super-G races this season. No other speed skier has shown the same level of reliability or sustained excellence during this Olympic cycle, reinforcing her status as one of the leading medal contenders for Milan–Cortina.

Vonn fell just 0.27 seconds short of victory on the demanding Prampero course, where thick fog and inconsistent visibility created challenging conditions, particularly in the upper sections. The narrow margin highlighted how finely balanced the contest was, with small mistakes or moments of hesitation proving costly. Despite the near miss, the result further strengthened Vonn’s Olympic credentials, especially with less than three weeks remaining before the Games begin.

Throughout the race, Vonn demonstrated her trademark composure and precision. She led Germany’s Emma Aicher at every intermediate timing point before surrendering time through the final gates, where Aicher found extra speed and cleaner lines. Even so, Vonn’s worst finish across the speed events this season remains fourth place, an astonishing level of consistency that separates her from the rest of the field. While many rivals have produced flashes of brilliance, none have matched her ability to deliver top-level performances race after race under mounting pressure.

Aicher’s victory, however, signaled an important moment for the next generation. The German skier claimed her second win of the season and the fourth World Cup triumph of her young career, confirming her rapid rise in the sport. Born in Sweden to a Swedish mother and German father, Aicher represents a rare modern all-rounder, competing confidently across all four alpine disciplines. Her adaptability and fearlessness were on full display as she handled the difficult conditions with maturity beyond her years.

As the youngest athlete on the podium, Aicher finished ahead of a field packed with Olympic champions and seasoned veterans. Her win suggested that she is no longer simply a promising talent, but a genuine threat in major events. With the Olympics looming, her performance will give Germany optimism of challenging for medals across multiple disciplines.

The podium was completed by Ester Ledecka, whose third-place finish marked her first World Cup podium of the season. The Czech star, renowned for her unique double-Olympic success in alpine skiing and snowboarding, showed signs of building momentum at the right time. France’s Romane Miradoli narrowly missed out in fourth, continuing her steady season, while American Keely Cashman produced the best result of her career by finishing fifth, a significant milestone for the young skier.

The race also delivered moments of high drama. New Zealand’s Alice Robinson, one of the standout performers of the season with multiple wins to her name, suffered a heavy crash at the final gate. She hit the snow hard after clipping the gate, momentarily halting the action. Robinson was able to stand up and ski away under her own power, appearing to avoid serious injury, though she looked visibly shaken as she exited the course. Her fall served as a stark reminder of the risks inherent in speed events, especially in difficult weather.

Attention now shifts to the next stops on the women’s World Cup calendar. The circuit moves to Kronplatz for a giant slalom, followed by one final speed weekend in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. These races will offer athletes a final chance to fine-tune their form and confidence ahead of the Olympics.

Meanwhile, Italy is watching developments closely as Federica Brignone, the reigning overall World Cup champion, weighs up a possible return after recovering from a serious leg injury. Her decision could add yet another layer of intrigue to an already compelling Olympic buildup.

As Tarvisio showed, the women’s speed scene is defined by both enduring greatness and rising ambition. Lindsey Vonn continues to defy time with unmatched consistency, while Emma Aicher’s breakthrough signals the arrival of a new challenger ready to shape the future of the sport.

Beyond Shiffrin and Vonn: U.S. teammates stepping up in crucial Olympic season

Mikaela Shiffrin may be stealing the spotlight in slalom, and Lindsey Vonn continues to defy time in downhill, but the strength of the U.S. women’s ski team this Olympic season runs far deeper than its two biggest stars.

As the World Cup circuit rolls through Europe with the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics now just weeks away, American skiers are consistently making their presence felt across multiple disciplines. Their depth was on full display once again Tuesday night in Flachau, Austria, where the United States claimed two podium spots in a single race for the second time in less than a week.

Shiffrin and Minnesota native Paula Moltzan delivered a commanding one-two finish in the women’s night slalom, thrilling a packed crowd at the Griessenkar course. The result reinforced the U.S. team’s dominance in technical events and highlighted how American skiers are peaking at exactly the right time.

“It’s incredibly special to share moments like this with Paula,” Shiffrin said after the race, praising her teammate’s continued rise.

Just days earlier, another American duo had stood on the podium in Austria. At the downhill event in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Lindsey Vonn captured victory with a fearless run, while Jacqueline Wiles secured third place, underlining the United States’ strength in speed events as well.

Shiffrin’s latest triumph was a familiar story this season. The reigning slalom queen extended her advantage from the first run and navigated a demanding course that featured several artificial terrain rolls designed to disrupt rhythm and balance. She crossed the line 0.41 seconds ahead of Moltzan, sealing yet another dominant performance.

Austria’s Katharina Truppe delighted the home crowd by finishing third, 0.65 seconds back, while Switzerland’s Camille Rast — one of the few racers to beat Shiffrin this winter — placed fourth. Another American, Nina O’Brien, produced the second-fastest time in the final run, surging up 10 positions to finish 13th overall.

With just one World Cup slalom remaining before the Olympic opening ceremony on February 6, Shiffrin’s form appears nearly untouchable. The Flachau victory marked her 107th career World Cup win, her 70th in slalom, and her sixth triumph at the Austrian venue — numbers that continue to stretch records she already owns.

For Moltzan, the night represented another important step forward. While she is still chasing her first World Cup victory, the second-place finish was the fourth runner-up result of her career and her third podium of the current season. She has steadily narrowed the gap to Shiffrin and continues to build confidence heading into the Games.

“I’m really thankful for the progress I’ve made,” Moltzan said. “Closing the gap to Mikaela has been a major focus for me this year.”

Moltzan’s recent success adds to a résumé that already includes a giant slalom bronze medal at last season’s world championships. Combined with Shiffrin’s consistency, Vonn’s remarkable comeback, and solid contributions from skiers like Wiles and O’Brien, the United States enters the Olympic season with one of the deepest women’s teams in the world.

While individual stars will always draw attention, the broader picture shows a U.S. squad firing on all cylinders. As the countdown to Milan–Cortina continues, American women are not just winning races — they are setting the tone for what could be a historic Olympic campaign.

Heartwarming moment between Lindsey Vonn and her dad: “I’ve never heard him cry like that”

Lindsey Vonn once again reminded the skiing world why her name is etched so deeply into the sport’s history. At 41 years old, the American icon delivered a stunning performance in St. Moritz, winning the opening speed race of the 2024/25 World Cup season and becoming the oldest female winner in World Cup history. Beyond the statistics and records, however, the victory carried powerful emotional weight—especially for Vonn and her family.

Vonn dominated the race, finishing nearly a second ahead of Austrian surprise package Magdalena Egger, with Mirjam Puchner completing the podium more than a second back. The margin underlined just how competitive Vonn still is, even at an age when most elite skiers have long since retired. Speaking immediately after the race, she admitted the day had been overwhelming in the best possible way.

She described feeling immense pride—not only in herself but also in the team that has supported her through years of setbacks, injuries, and doubts. According to Vonn, nothing about the journey back to the top had been easy, which made the moment even sweeter. She said everything finally felt aligned again and made it clear she is fully prepared for the season ahead, including her ultimate goal of competing at the Olympic Games.

One of the most touching moments of the day came after the race, when Vonn spoke by phone with her father, Alan Kildow. The conversation left a deep impression on her. She revealed that he was overcome with emotion, crying harder than she had ever heard before. For Vonn, that reaction made the victory even more meaningful and highlighted how far their relationship has come.

The bond between Vonn and her father has not always been an easy one. Alan Kildow was instrumental in recognizing her talent at a young age and played a major role in shaping her early career. When Lindsey was just 11 years old, the family relocated from Burnsville, Minnesota, to Vail, Colorado, a move designed to give her the best possible environment to develop as a skier. The decision paid off in sporting terms, as Vonn quickly emerged as an exceptional young talent, winning numerous junior races and standing out among her peers.

However, the intensity of that support also created strain. The heavy focus on performance and success placed enormous pressure on Lindsey at a young age. Over time, family tensions grew, and her parents eventually divorced. Vonn has since spoken openly about how difficult that period was, explaining that her father’s strong emphasis on results sometimes made her feel overwhelmed. There were moments when their relationship fractured completely, and communication between them stopped altogether.

It took years for that rift to begin healing. A turning point came around 2011, during Vonn’s separation from her then-husband, Thomas Vonn. During that challenging chapter of her life, she slowly reconnected with her father. What followed was a gradual rebuilding of trust and understanding. With distance and maturity, Vonn has come to reflect on her upbringing with greater balance—recognizing that her father’s dedication made her extraordinary career possible, while also acknowledging the personal cost it sometimes carried.

Today, that relationship appears to be on far steadier ground. The emotional phone call after her St. Moritz victory symbolized not just sporting success, but reconciliation and shared pride. For Vonn, knowing how deeply the moment affected her father added another layer of meaning to an already historic win.

And the weekend may not be over yet. St. Moritz still has more racing to come, with another downhill scheduled for Saturday and a super-G on Sunday. Vonn hinted that she believes there is even more speed to be found, suggesting she could improve on certain sections of the course. While she admitted she hadn’t expected to be quite so fast already, she also issued a subtle warning to her rivals that she may not be done collecting trophies just yet.

At 41, Lindsey Vonn continues to defy expectations—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Her latest victory was not just a triumph of skill and experience, but also a reminder of resilience, reconciliation, and the enduring power of belief.