Lindsey Vonn, aged 41, continues to excel on the World Cup speed circuit, consistently landing on the podium. In a challenging super-G event in Tarvisio, Italy, Vonn secured second place, marking her seventh podium finish in eight races this season. Among all skiers, Vonn stands out with the most podium finishes in speed events, and her lowest ranking this season is fourth, showcasing remarkable consistency compared to other competitors like Mikaela Shiffrin. Vonn is now a strong contender for medals in both downhill and super-G at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Despite tough visibility conditions, Vonn was narrowly defeated by Germany’s Emma Aicher, who is 19 years her junior. Aicher clinched the victory in 1 minute 14.04 seconds, edging out Vonn by 0.27 seconds. Ester Ledecka, a former Olympic champion, secured the third spot, trailing 0.94 seconds behind Aicher.
Vonn expressed satisfaction with her podium finish, acknowledging the challenging conditions and hinting at a potential win in Cortina. Meanwhile, Canadian skiers Val Grenier and Cassidy Gray had mixed results, with Grenier finishing 14th and Gray being disqualified.
Alice Robinson of New Zealand, a standout performer this season, faced a setback as she crashed into the final gate during the competition. Foggy conditions on the course added to the challenges for all skiers. Aicher’s victory marked her fourth career win, highlighting her consistency across all disciplines.
Other notable performances included Ledecka’s first podium finish of the season, Romane Miradoli of France securing fourth place, and Keely Cashman of the United States achieving a career-best fifth-place finish. The women’s circuit will continue in Italy with the Kronplatz giant slalom, leading up to the final speed races in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, just before the Winter Olympics.
In other developments, Italian skier Federica Brignone, the defending World Cup champion, is set to return to the squad for the Kronplatz race after recovering from a leg injury. The Italian team will assess Brignone’s readiness after she tests the course on Monday.
The competition remains fierce as skiers gear up for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy. Fans can anticipate more thrilling action as the season progresses towards the highly anticipated games.