41-year-old Vonn makes history with overwhelming Downhill victory in St. Moritz
Dec 12, 2025·Alpine Skiing
Most ski fans thought Lindsey Vonn (USA/ Head) would be competitive this season – but few could have seen this coming.
The 41-year-old obliterated the field in Switzerland at the opening women's Downhill race of the season, finishing +0.98 seconds ahead of Magdalena Egger (AUT/ Head) in second.
Vonn became the oldest winner, male or female, in Audi FIS World Cup history, on her 409th World Cup start.
The greatest women’s speed skier of all time looked back to her supreme best: the kind of athlete who won four overall titles between 2008 and 2012. How was this possible?
Emotions were certainly flowing. “I just called my dad, he was crying so hard, I’ve never heard him so emotional in my whole life, it made me cry too,” said Vonn afterwards. “The win means so much to me. I knew in the summer I was on the right path, and all the hard work has paid off.”
“Every time they talk bad about me, it makes me stronger”
With perfect snow, blue skies and not a wisp of wind, the conditions were idyllic in St. Moritz. Mirjam Puchner (AUT/ Atomic) set the early pace with a balanced and controlled run.
Vonn, though, has meant business all week, clocking the fastest time in training. Aggressive from the gate, it all came together on the bumpier mid-section. Tidy and precise on every turn, she carried massive speed into the lower section.
Vonn was so quick she could barely stop, ploughing into the barriers at the bottom as she wildly punched the air. It was seven years, eight months and 29 days since her last victory (at Are in 2018).
She attributed the moment to a perfect combination of factors. “We worked really hard, not just me but my whole team, from the equipment, physical training, and also we hired Aksel [Lund Svindal, as coach],” she said. “Systematically, every single thing I could do to be faster, I did.
“I knew I was skiing fast, but you never know until the first race, and it was a little faster than I expected.
“I felt nervous, it’s always tricky, the first race of the season. Aksel said at the start: ‘Sofia [Goggia] lost a lot of time at the start but she was able to make it up at the bottom’.
“I was thinking OK, well, I just need to ski the pitch really clean and carry my speed down. I still didn’t ski the best that I could have on the compression on the bottom, but I tried to be dynamic, clean, like I’ve been in training, and it was pretty solid.
“I think I had a great run but I also made some mistakes, so I’m excited for tomorrow.”
That mid-section was key, she believes. “Aksel said it the other day in the press conference, people think I’m a really good glider, but I’m actually a better turner.
“I started off as a slalom skier. And I try to be clean and generate power. That’s where I’m skiing well now, in the turns.”
She didn’t know she had won, initially: “I was stuck in the banner”. But as soon as she did, the American knew she had justification for her comeback. Vonn loves to prove doubters wrong.
“All the people who didn’t believe in me, I have to thank them, because it gives me a lot of motivation,” she said. “I’m surprised people haven’t figured that out by now. Every time they talk bad about me it makes me stronger, better, more motivated. So I’d love for people to keep coming at me.”
“I’ve got to change all my hats… all my hats say 82.”
Vonn is aware that history is being made: it was a day for stats fans.
This was Vonn’s 44th Downhill win. It was World Cup victory 83 overall. The previous oldest female winner of an Audi FIS World Cup race is Federica Brignone (ITA/Rossignol) – six years Vonn’s junior. The oldest male winner was Didier Cuche, who triumphed in a 2012 Super G in Crans Montana aged 37.
Vonn moves to third place outright on the all-time World Cup podiums list, with 139 – ahead of Marcel Hirscher (NED/ Van Deer). Only Mikaela Shiffrin (USA/ Atomic) and Ingmar Stenmark (SWE) are now ahead of her.
Tomorrow, she should make her 410th World Cup appearance, passing the record of 409 she now shares with Renate Goetschl (AUT).
“Seven years [since winning], and I also tied for the most starts, It’s been a lot of years, a lot of numbers,” said Vonn. “I’ve got to change all my hats, too, all my hats say 82. But it’s been a lot of fun.”
Vonn admits that this result might change her plan for the winter. “I thought I might retire after the last race of the Olympics, because I didn’t think I’d be competitive for a title, but I might need to change my approach,” she said.
She will definitely be enjoying the journey there. “It almost doesn’t feel real. This is my last weekend racing in St. Moritz ever in my life – I’m not racing after this year. So I’m trying to enjoy it. But it couldn’t go any better than this.”
Where does it rank in terms of career highs? “I thought nothing could top last year, getting second in Sun Valley, but hearing my dad cry on the phone was pretty awesome.”
Lund Svindal was certainly impressed. “I thought it would be tight, but you made sure It wasn’t tight,” he told Vonn. “I was surprised how nervous I was. But that’s good, it shows it matters. It’s the first time I’ve seen her in race mode. I was a racer, but you’ve got more intensity.”
Vonn returned the compliment. “His calm energy is helpful to me. I’m really intense and he can calm me down a little bit.”
Her rivals, too, were full of praise. “I thought she was the one to beat today but I didn’t think she was a second ahead,” said Sofia Goggia (ITA/ Atomic), who finished fourth. “I am really impressed.”
Egger makes mark
It wasn’t just Vonn’s day: there were notable achievements at the other end of the age spectrum. Magdalena Egger was born in 2001, a year after Vonn made her World Cup debut.
Egger had a stellar junior career, and St. Moritz marked the moment she converted that potential on the senior scene, scoring her first podium.
Like compatriot Puchner, she glided effectively and picked perfect lines – but didn’t have the raw power of Vonn. “It is just a dream come true,” she said. “I just tried to keep my ski clean, keep making speed and I am really relieved.
“I knew Lindsey was pretty far in front, and she made speed in the last sector. So I really focused on that, and it seems like it worked out.”
Puchner, who finished third, was also content with her season’s start. “I don’t know if I expected this,” she said. “I knew that I was fast during the training runs, the whole autumn.
“I tried to believe in myself. After yesterday’s training it was not bad. Today the sun was shining, I knew I could ski everything and I had to trust in myself.
“I was really fast on the upper part, I felt it because the jumps were so far, not like yesterday. I tried to push, it was OK, but I think there is much [to improve on] tomorrow.
“I think it’s a good option to take the same strategy tomorrow. I believed in myself and that’s the key for me. It’s good to start the season well, because you don’t think too much and you can keep going.”
With three races in the weekend, there’s a lot for athletes to consider. Vonn must have the final word. “Honestly it’s a lot to do with energy conservation, it’s a long weekend," she said.
“I’m just going to try to get some sleep tonight. I know what to do tomorrow. I skied my plan, and I’m actually really excited for Super G because I’m skiing better in Super G than in Downhill."
The rest of the ski world has been warned.
