Lindsey Vonn, at 41 years old, continues to impress with her consistent performances on the World Cup speed circuit. In a recent super-G event in Tarvisio, Italy, Vonn secured a second-place finish despite challenging visibility conditions. This marks her seventh podium finish in eight races this season, outshining other skiers who have fewer podium appearances.
Vonn’s strong results, with her lowest finish being fourth this season, position her as a top contender for medals in both downhill and super-G at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The only skier who managed to beat Vonn in the recent race was Germany’s Emma Aicher, who finished 0.27 seconds ahead of Vonn to claim her second victory of the season.
Despite the tough conditions, Vonn expressed her satisfaction with being on the podium again and hinted at saving her best for the Olympics. Val Grenier from St-Isidore, Ont., secured a 14th-place finish in the race, while Cassidy Gray from Panorama, B.C., faced disqualification for unspecified reasons.
Meanwhile, Alice Robinson, the New Zealand skier with notable wins this season, encountered a crash at the final gate but fortunately managed to avoid serious injury. The challenging fog on the course added to the difficulty for skiers navigating the Prampero track.
Aicher’s victory over Vonn marked her fourth career win, showcasing her consistency across various disciplines. Aicher’s flawless performance was praised as she led at every checkpoint, eventually securing the win.
Other notable finishes included Ester Ledecka claiming her first podium of the season, Romane Miradoli finishing fourth, and Keely Cashman from the United States achieving a career-best fifth place. The women’s circuit will continue in Italy with the Kronplatz giant slalom event, followed by the final set of speed races in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, before the Olympics.
Additionally, the Italian team announced the return of defending overall World Cup champion Federica Brignone for the Kronplatz race after recovering from a leg injury. Brignone’s participation will be confirmed after testing the course on Monday.