Lidnsey Vonn is blissful to win quantity 83 in St Moritz / GEPA footage
Vonn Dominates to Historic Win in St. Moritz Downhill
Lindsey Vonn delivered some of the commanding downhill performances of her profession, storming to a 0.98-second victory within the opening ladies’s World Cup downhill of the 2026 Olympic season on Friday in St. Moritz.
The 41-year-old Stifel U.S. Ski Staff star stopped the clock in 1:29.63, incomes her 83rd profession World Cup victory and her forty fourth downhill win. The outcome made Vonn the oldest skier in historical past to win a World Cup race and marked her first World Cup victory since March 2018 in Åre, Sweden.
It was additionally Vonn’s fifth World Cup downhill victory in St. Moritz — and at this level, it’s nearly simpler to ask the place she hasn’t gained.
A Run Constructed on Velocity and Expertise
Vonn didn’t lead early, however she flipped the race decisively within the decrease half of the course, the place downhill racing is quickest and most harmful. She posted the quickest instances within the closing three sectors, reached a prime pace of 114 kph, and carried momentum by way of probably the most punishing terrain on the hill.
As soon as she discovered her rhythm, no skier might match her acceleration or potential to carry pace. Her margin solely grew as challenger after challenger failed to shut the hole.
Vonn: ‘We Labored Actually Arduous for This’
“We labored actually laborious for this — not simply me, however the entire workforce, from gear to bodily coaching,” Vonn stated. “I knew I used to be snowboarding quick, however you by no means actually know till the primary race. I believe I used to be a bit of sooner than I anticipated. I had a terrific run, however I additionally made some errors, which truly makes me excited for tomorrow. I targeted on snowboarding the pitch clear and carrying pace to the underside, and that labored. Now it’s about maintaining the rhythm, managing vitality, and executing the plan once more. I’m actually excited — particularly for super-G, as a result of I’m snowboarding even higher there.” — Lindsey Vonn
Vonn emphasised that endurance, vitality administration, and disciplined execution shall be simply as essential as pace because the demanding weekend continues.
Austria Doubles Up on the Podium
Austria positioned two skiers on the rostrum, signaling a strong begin to the Olympic season in ladies’s pace.
Magdalena Egger, racing from bib 27, delivered a breakthrough efficiency to complete second, 0.98 seconds again, incomes the primary World Cup podium of her profession. Born in 2001 — a 12 months after Lindsey Vonn made her World Cup debut — the 24-year-old transformed a standout junior profession right into a senior-level outcome on one of many sport’s most demanding tracks.
“It’s only a dream come true,” Egger stated. “I attempted to maintain my snowboarding clear, hold constructing pace, and keep calm. I knew Lindsey was actually far in entrance and that she was very quick within the final sector, so I targeted on carrying my pace there. To return away with my first World Cup podium right here is one thing actually particular, and I’m very relieved.” — Magdalena Egger
Egger’s late surge reshuffled the standings and pushed a number of established stars off the rostrum.
Mirjam Puchner accomplished the rostrum in third (+1.16), incomes the sixth World Cup downhill podium of her profession. Puchner was quickest by way of the higher a part of the course, attacking aggressively over the jumps earlier than giving time again within the decrease sections.
“I don’t know if I anticipated this, however I knew I used to be quick throughout the coaching runs all autumn,” Puchner stated. “Right this moment the solar was shining, and I knew I might ski all the pieces if I trusted myself. I felt I used to be actually quick on the higher half — the jumps have been a lot larger than yesterday — and I attempted to push. There’s nonetheless rather a lot I can enhance, but it surely’s an excellent technique to begin the season, since you don’t overthink it and you may hold going.” — Mirjam Puchner
Late Shake-Up Pushes Goggia Off the Podium
Italy’s Sofia Goggia completed fourth (+1.31) after snowboarding along with her trademark aggression, however Egger’s late cost pushed her off the rostrum and denied what would have been the thirty eighth downhill podium of her profession.
Germany’s rising star Emma Aicher, simply 22 years previous and 19 years youthful than Vonn, positioned fifth (+1.41). France’s Romane Miradoli and Austria’s Cornelia Huetter tied for sixth (+1.42).
U.S. Depth on Show
The Stifel U.S. Ski Staff showcased spectacular depth, inserting seven skiers inside the highest 30 on a demanding downhill observe that rewarded pace tolerance and punished hesitation.
Behind Vonn’s victory, Breezy Johnson completed fifteenth, whereas Jacqueline Wiles positioned 18th. Probably the most notable cost got here from Isabella “Bella” Wright, who skied from bib 35 to sixteenth (+2.02) — the quickest finisher among the many excessive bibs — in her first World Cup race since February.
“I’m actually grateful for immediately,” Wright stated. “I haven’t raced since final February, and this was actually solely my third day on a full-length course. It was positively nerve-wracking, however I used to be simply blissful to make it down and put collectively a strong run, even with some errors to scrub up for tomorrow. Seeing Lindsey again on prime like that’s inspiring. You’ll be able to see the expertise and the struggle she has, and she or he simply put the hammer down. It makes all of us need to be higher.” — Isabella “Bella” Wright
Unbiased American Haley Cutler, racing from bib 41, completed twentieth (+2.16) to earn the second World Cup factors results of her profession, following her first factors scored final season within the Kvitfjell downhill.
“I’m smiling actually massive proper now,” Cutler stated. “I really feel like I trusted myself for the primary time, and it’s paying off. Seeing Lindsey again on prime is so inspiring. I used to be on the chairlift when she crossed the end, and I might hear the roar from the end space. I had goosebumps and tears in my eyes. What she’s achieved — and the assumption and help she’s proven me — made this sense potential immediately.” — Haley Cutler
Keely Cashman added one other sturdy U.S. lead to twenty fourth (+2.22), persevering with a constructive begin to her downhill season.
“It feels actually good,” Cashman stated. “I felt assured going into this race, and the coaching we had right here was superb. The snow was nice, the solar was out, and I felt sturdy. There are positively just a few spots to scrub up for tomorrow, however I’m proud of the outcome. Seeing the entire workforce punch it in like that makes it even higher. Coaching alongside Lindsey, who’s completely crushing it, raises everybody’s stage, and days like this are nice for the workforce.” — Keely Cashman
Allison Mollin, racing from bib 53, completed twenty seventh, scoring the primary World Cup factors of her profession and changing into the highest-bib skier to succeed in the factors on the day.
“It feels so good,” Mollin stated. “I really feel like I’ve been snowboarding at that stage for some time, and it’s actually rewarding to do it when it counts. It wasn’t simply in regards to the prime 30 — it was an enormous workforce outcome. There’s a lot momentum on this group, and we see it on daily basis in coaching. Everybody pushes one another, and it’s thrilling to point out that collectively on the race hill. I believe this workforce goes to have a terrific season, and I’m actually excited to be a part of it.” — Allison Mollin
Excessive Bibs Break By way of
A number of skiers beginning thirty first or increased fought their approach into the highest 30, reinforcing how aggressively the later starters attacked the St. Moritz downhill:
Bib 35 — Isabella Wright (USA): sixteenth, +2.02
Bib 41 — Haley Cutler (USA): twentieth, +2.16
Bib 40 — Lena Wechner (AUT): twentieth, +2.16
Bib 45 — Keely Cashman (USA): twenty fourth, +2.22
Bib 51 — Cande Moreno (AND): twenty sixth, +2.54
Bib 53 — Allison Mollin (USA): twenty seventh, +2.55
Bib 31 — Alice Robinson (NZL): twenty ninth, +2.57
The outcomes underscored each the depth of the Stifel U.S. Ski Staff and the willingness of the excessive bibs to push the bounds on one of many sport’s quickest and most harmful tracks.
Trying Forward
With the Olympic season underway, the U.S. downhill image is taking form. Vonn, Wiles, and Johnson stay the possible core of the American pace group, however with Lauren Macuga not racing, the battle for the remaining Olympic spots is large open.
The depth on show in St. Moritz made one factor clear: the subsequent technology of U.S. pace skiers is wholesome, hungry, and pushing laborious.
And on the entrance, Lindsey Vonn as soon as once more set the usual.
Prime 30 outcomes
Evaluation of the highest three and Different North Individuals among the many prime 30
