What's happened
Lindsey Vonn, at age 41, won her 83rd World Cup race in downhill at St. Moritz, becoming the oldest winner in circuit history. She is preparing for the Milan Cortina Olympics, aiming for multiple medals after returning from retirement and knee surgery. Her performance signals strong Olympic prospects.
What's behind the headline?
Vonn's recent performance underscores her exceptional physical condition and mental resilience, defying age expectations in elite sports. Her comeback highlights the potential for athletes to extend their careers through disciplined training and medical advancements. Her success also shifts the narrative around age and performance in high-speed sports, signaling that experience and preparation can outweigh youthful advantage. This victory not only boosts her Olympic medal chances but also challenges perceptions of aging in competitive skiing, likely influencing future athlete longevity strategies. The focus on her performance may also intensify scrutiny on safety protocols, especially given recent Swiss training crashes, emphasizing the ongoing debate about risk management in high-speed alpine events.
What the papers say
AP News reports on Vonn's historic win at St. Moritz, highlighting her record as the oldest winner and her Olympic ambitions. The coverage emphasizes her physical preparedness and her return from injury, contrasting her with younger competitors like Sofia Goggia and Emma Aicher. The articles also note her collaboration with coach Aksel Lund Svindal and her pursuit of multiple Olympic medals. The coverage from The Japan Times provides additional context on her career longevity and recent form, while Al Jazeera discusses safety concerns in training, including Gisin's crash, framing the broader risks in alpine skiing. These sources collectively portray Vonn as a symbol of resilience and a serious contender for the upcoming Olympics, while also acknowledging the sport's inherent dangers.
How we got here
Lindsey Vonn, a legendary American skier, retired in 2019 after a highly successful career. She returned to competition last season following knee surgery, aiming to qualify for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Her recent victories, including her record-breaking win, demonstrate her resilience and ongoing competitiveness in alpine skiing.
Go deeper
Common question
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How Did Lindsey Vonn Become the Oldest Winner in Downhill Skiing?
Lindsey Vonn's recent victory at St. Moritz has made headlines as she became the oldest skier to win a downhill race in World Cup history. Her remarkable comeback from retirement and injury has sparked questions about her journey, her Olympic prospects, and her longevity in the sport. Below, we explore the details of her record-breaking win and what it means for her future in skiing.
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