'Surprised how nervous I was!' - Lindsey Vonn and new coach Aksel Lund Svindal share jokes in hilarious interview after American's win

Lindsey Vonn waited seven years for another World Cup victory, which meant fans waited seven years to watch one of her post-race interviews. And she certainly didn't disappoint on Friday. Her new coach Aksel Lund Svindal was being interviewed by Eurosport when Vonn walked past, gatecrashed it and chaos ensued as the two legends of alpine skiing shared numerous jokes in five hilarious minutes.

Lindsey Vonn, fresh off a magical performance to win the downhill in St. Moritz, shared numerous jokes with her new coach Aksel Lund Svindal in a hilarious post-race interview.

American great Vonn rolled back the clock to put down a blistering time in her winning run, her first victory since winning the downhill in Are, all the way back in 2018.

Vonn made her comeback last season after retiring in 2019, and she thrilled fans when she took her first podium at the end of last season in Sun Valley in the super-G. Now her comeback has gone a step further with a World Cup victory.

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Over the summer of 2025, Vonn added another skiing legend to her team, with Norway's double-Olympic gold medal winner Aksel Lund Svindal becoming part of Team Vonn.

And Svindal was being interviewed by Eurosport after his first race as coach ended in victory, when Vonn came through the media zone and crashed proceedings, with chaos unfolding.

"I knew that we were well-prepared and we could fight for the win," Svindal said, "But then of course seeing the first splits I thought we were going to be behind, and we were a little bit more behind than I thought.

Vonn gatecrashes coach's interview to celebrate World Cup win

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"But then the way she caught up on the bottom part, was unbelievable but she’s a great turner.

A lot of people think she’s fast on the flats but put some more forces on those skis, some more power and she can be so clean and that’s where she just pulls away from the field. Am I surprised, a little bit, but respect, super impressive."

Vonn entered the picture at this stage, as Svindal continued: "It was nervous at the start, I wasn't sure what I was going to tell you, so I just said get after it stay over the ski and work the terrain."

Vonn then said, while laughing: "You sounded like you knew what you were talking about."

Svindal said: "No, but I wanted to sound convincing and honestly we had a good plan. But I thought to see Sofia [Goggia] how she lost on the top but she gained on the bottom, I knew you could get a lot of time on the bottom,

"I have to say, I thought it’d be tight but you made sure it wasn’t tight, congrats good job!"

Highlights: Vonn dominates downhill to claim first World Cup win since 2018

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Svindal was then asked how he found it watching as a coach compared to being a racer.

"It’s obviously different but I have to say I was surprised how nervous I was at the start [Vonn laughs] but that’s good right? It just means that it matters, if you get nervous it just means it means something to you so that’s a good thing. It’s the first time I’ve seen her in race mode."

Vonn interjected "You were a little bit not sure what to do with me! I’m like focused [makes focused gesture towards the camera]."

Svindal replied "I’m just there if you need something, you never know, but you’re definitely, like a real racer."

Vonn looking faux incredulous repying "As opposed to a fake racer?"

Svindal responded to that while laughing, saying: "But you know I was also a racer, but you’ve got even more intensity, which is good. That’s why you’ve now won 83 World Cup wins."

A shocked Vonn reacted to that comment, saying: "Oh wow I didn’t think about that! Now I’ve got to change all my hats, all my hats say 82 [laughs]."

'I knew I was skiing fast' - Vonn says preparation key to St Moritz win

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That is a reference to her World Cup win total, now sitting at 83. It put her three behind Swedish legend Ingemar Stenmark, who has 86. He sits second, with Vonn's compatriot Mikaela Shiffrin leading the way with 84.

"I saw Stenmark last night," Svindal revealed, "and he knew you won the first training run, and he knows you’re going to catch up with him."

Vonn looked genuinely surprised and delighted as she said "Oh no way! He said a long time ago I’d break his record, now I guess I’ll have to prove him right!"

At this stage the Eurosport interviewer, former skier Viktoria Rebensburg - who could barely get a word in during this exchange - asked Vonn about what having Svindal in her team on race day does for her.

"He knows what to do, he’s been in the start a million times," Vonn said. "Just his calm energy, because I can get really intense and sometimes it’s good just to tone it down a little bit.

Vonn in tears as she lifts first World Cup trophy since 2018

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"He’s always so stable and that gives me peace of mind and when he says something like ‘Sofie gained a lot of time at the bottom’ I know that if I ski well I can win the race and he was right!"

Svindal pointed out: "But you’re a good turner, everyone should know that by now."

Vonn responded by saying: "I definitely felt like I was going fast, I wasn’t sure, I was a little bit dirty, I wasn’t as clean I wanted to be coming into the steep section.

"But as soon as I got through the bumpy left-footed double on the pitch I knew I had a lot of speed, and I was just trying to maintain it to the finish. I didn’t do that compression turn very well."

At which point a laughing Svindal interjected by saying: "No I was a bit worried to be honest! Didn’t go the line we inspected!"

Vonn replied: "But the timing was off because I was going so fast, but tomorrow I’ll definitely make the adjustment.

"No, Aksel said at the start it was a tight race and I could see the times were tight and I knew I had to find anywhere I could to gain speed on people and when I crossed the finish line I had a hard time stopping.

"And when I looked I couldn’t quite see the minus and I thought ‘s*** am I a second [behind]? Then I saw the minus and it was good!’"

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Make sure you tune in to TNT Sports and discovery+ across the weekend for another downhill race on Saturday before a super-G on Sunday

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