Winter Sports: Vonn strikes back: First downhill victory in one year

Lindsey Vonn has reclaimed her departure throne three weeks before the Olympic Games. In Cortina d’ Ampezzo, the American won her 79th birthday in a superior manner. World Cup victory – the first in the highest discipline since Garmisch-Partenkirchen exactly one year ago.

Vonn declassified the competition in fantastic conditions at the “Olympia delle Tofane” after her second place on Friday despite a smaller wackler. Tina Weirather (Liechtenstein) in second place was already 0.92 seconds behind. Vonns team mate Jacqueline Wiles (+0.98) finished third. For Vonn it was the twelfth Cortina victory (six in downhill and six in Super-G).

“Sunshine, victory – it doesn’t get any better”, said the 33-year-old, who replaced Elisabeth Görgl (Austria) as the oldest downhill champion in the World Cup, on ARD.”Super cool, that’s the biggest victory for me. I’m old but still fast,”she added on ORF television and laughed.

Looking forward to the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang (9. till 25. February) Vonn “sees himself well on schedule. Last week everyone said I wasn’t in good shape, but that’s not true. Olympia 2014 missed the gold medallist in the 2010 departure due to injury.

Sofia Goggia, winner of the last two downhill runs in Bad Kleinkirchheim and Cortina, got into reserve in the Tofana shot and fell. The Italian fell on her back, but was able to straighten up in full speed and prevent worse. In 1:36.45 minutes Goggia was 0.03 seconds faster on Friday than Vonn on Saturday.