Lindsey Vonn, at 41 years old, continues to excel on the World Cup speed circuit with remarkable consistency. In a challenging super-G event in Tarvisio, Italy, Vonn secured a second-place finish, marking her seventh podium appearance in eight races this season. This achievement surpasses all other skiers in speed events, with Vonn’s lowest result being a fourth-place finish. Even Mikaela Shiffrin, who boasts seven podium finishes in technical races, has not displayed the same level of consistency across all disciplines.
Vonn’s outstanding performances position her as a strong contender for medals in both downhill and super-G at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, scheduled to commence in less than three weeks. In the recent event, 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, finishing 0.27 seconds ahead of Vonn, while former Olympic champion Ester Ledecka secured third place, trailing by 0.94 seconds with a time of 1:14.98.
Reflecting on the race, Vonn acknowledged the challenging visibility conditions but expressed her satisfaction with another podium finish. Despite being near another victory, Vonn accepted the outcome graciously, looking ahead to the future races with optimism.
In other notable performances, Val Grenier from St-Isidore, Ont., claimed the 14th spot out of 53 finishers with a time of 1:15.59, while Cassidy Gray from Panorama, B.C., faced disqualification for unspecified reasons.
The competition saw Alice Robinson, the New Zealand skier with multiple wins this season, experience a crash at the final gate, though she managed to recover without serious injury. The foggy conditions on the course presented challenges for all skiers navigating the Prampero track.
Aicher’s victory marked her fourth career win, showcasing her proficiency across various disciplines. Born to a Swedish mother and a German father, Aicher expressed her satisfaction in delivering a flawless performance during the race.
Additionally, Ledecka, the Czech racer renowned for her dual Olympic victories in snowboarding and skiing, secured her first podium finish of the season. Romane Miradoli of France claimed fourth place, while Keely Cashman of the United States achieved a career-best fifth-place finish.
Looking ahead, the women’s circuit will continue in Italy with the Kronplatz giant slalom event. With only one more set of speed races in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, before the Olympics, the competition remains fierce as athletes gear up for the prestigious event.
Noteworthy news also emerged regarding the return of defending overall World Cup champion Federica Brignone to the Italian team for the Kronplatz race. Brignone, who suffered multiple leg injuries in April, will make a final decision after assessing the course conditions.
As the women’s super-G event concluded in Tarvisio, fans can anticipate more thrilling action in the upcoming races leading to the highly anticipated Winter Olympics.