Lindsey Vonn, at 41 years old, continues to demonstrate exceptional consistency on the World Cup speed circuit by frequently landing on the podium. In a super-G event in Tarvisio, Italy, Vonn secured a second-place finish, marking her seventh podium placement in eight races this season. Among all skiers, Vonn stands out with the most podium finishes in speed events, with her lowest result this season being fourth. Even Mikaela Shiffrin, who boasts seven podiums in technical races, has not shown the same level of consistency across all events.
Vonn’s impressive performances position her as a strong contender for medals in both downhill and super-G at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are set to commence in less than three weeks in Italy. During the competition, Vonn was narrowly defeated by Germany’s Emma Aicher, who is 19 years her junior. Aicher clinched victory with a time of 1:14.04, outpacing Vonn by 0.27 seconds. Meanwhile, former Olympic champion Ester Ledecka claimed the third spot, finishing 0.94 seconds behind in 1:14.98.
Reflecting on her performance, Vonn acknowledged the challenging visibility conditions but expressed satisfaction at once again landing on the podium. Although she missed out on a win by a small margin, Vonn remains optimistic for future competitions. Canadian skiers Val Grenier and Cassidy Gray also participated in the event, with Grenier securing a 14th place finish and Gray facing disqualification for unspecified reasons.
In a turn of events, New Zealand skier Alice Robinson, who had previously won two giant slaloms and a super-G this season, encountered a crash at the final gate, although she managed to swiftly recover. The Prampero course’s upper section was notably hindered by fog, posing navigation challenges for the skiers.
Emma Aicher’s victory marked her fourth career win, with her consistent performance across disciplines setting her apart on the circuit. Aicher, who competes in all four disciplines, expressed her satisfaction at delivering a flawless run. Ledecka, the Czech racer who achieved dual Olympic golds in snowboarding and skiing at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, secured her first podium of the season, while other notable finishers included Romane Miradoli of France in fourth place and Keely Cashman of the United States in fifth, marking her career-best result.
The women’s circuit remains in Italy for the upcoming Kronplatz giant slalom event, with one more set of speed races scheduled in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, on January 30-31 before the Olympics. Additionally, defending overall World Cup champion Federica Brignone is set to return to the Italian team for the Kronplatz race after recovering from a leg injury sustained in April, pending a final decision following a course inspection.
The competition continues to be fierce as skiers prepare for the pinnacle event, showcasing their skills and determination on the world stage.