Lindsey Vonn makes history with first World Cup podium since comeback - ‘I proved everyone wrong’
Published 23/03/2025 at 21:04 GMT
Lindsey Vonn secured the first podium since making her comeback to competitive skiing after finishing second to Lara Gut-Behrami at the World Cup Finals. The 40-year old retired in 2019 but returned to the sport last December with a view to competing at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Cortina. She is now the oldest woman in history to win a World Cup medal.
Lindsey Vonn of Team United States takes 2nd place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Men's and Women's Super G on March 23, 2025 in Sun Valley, USA
Image credit: Getty Images
Lindsey Vonn rolled back the years to claim the first podium of her comeback in the super-G race at the World Cup Finals in Sun Valley, Idaho.
The American sent shockwaves through the sport when she announced she would come out of retirement to compete this season and silenced her doubters by finishing second to Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami on home snow.
Vonn, 40, finished 1.29 seconds behind Gut-Behrami to become the oldest woman in history to secure a spot on a World Cup podium, per olympics.com, with Italy’s Federica Brignone completing the top three.
"I usually do better when the pressure’s higher," Vonn told NBC Sports. "It’s the last race of the season. I just put it all on the line.
"This is the level that I know I can ski. I know I can even do better than that.
"It’s been a rough season of people saying that I can’t, that I’m too old, that I’m not good enough anymore.
"I think I proved everyone wrong."
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Vonn nach Platz zwei: "Endlich alle Teile zusammengebracht"
Video credit: TNT Sports
Vonn remains one of the biggest names in the sport, despite making her World Cup debut back in 2000 at the age of 16.
She went onto win three Olympic medals – one gold and two bronzes – and is a two-time world champion.
The American also captured 20 World Cup crystal globes before announcing her retirement in 2019.
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She earned points on her competitive return in Copper Mountain, Colorado, in December and placed 14th in her first World Cup event of the season in St Moritz.
Vonn battled illness at the World Championships in Saalbach and failed to finish in the top 10 across three disciplines before returning to the podium in Idaho.
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