The alpine skiing season at the Olympics has been filled with excitement. One standout story is the remarkable resurgence of Lindsey Vonn, the 41-year-old American star. After stepping away from the sport in 2019 due to injuries, Vonn made a comeback last season with a new titanium knee. She has been performing exceptionally well this season, winning medals in all five women’s downhills, including two golds, and securing podium finishes in seven out of eight races.
Another impressive comeback is seen in Mikaela Shiffrin, the five-time overall champion from the U.S. Shiffrin broke Vonn’s all-time World Cup women’s wins record in 2023 and has dominated the slalom events this season, winning six out of seven races.
Federica Brignone of Italy, the reigning women’s overall champion, made a timely return to racing, finishing sixth in her first race since recovering from a leg injury. She is on track to compete in the upcoming Olympics in her home country.
On the men’s side, Swiss star Marco Odermatt has been shining with seven wins in 15 starts this season, positioning him well for his fifth consecutive overall title and his third straight Crystal Globes in downhill, super-G, and giant slalom.
Unfortunately, it has not been a successful season for Canada’s ski racers, with only one medal won so far. The top Canadian contenders, Jack Crawford and Cam Alexander, have struggled to achieve podium finishes.
Crawford, who won Olympic bronze in the past, has had a challenging season with only one top-10 result. Alexander, coming back from a knee injury, has not been able to crack the top six in any races this season.
Both Crawford and Alexander are looking to turn their performances around as they compete in the prestigious annual race in Kitzbuhel, Austria. Kitzbuhel features the renowned Streif downhill course, known for its challenging terrain and long jumps, providing a tough test for the world’s best downhill skiers.
Last year, Crawford made history by becoming the first Canadian to win the Kitzbuhel downhill since the legendary Crazy Canucks in the early 1980s. The upcoming races in Kitzbuhel could serve as a confidence booster for Crawford and Alexander as they prepare for the Olympics.
The action in Kitzbuhel kicks off with the super-G on Friday and the downhill race on Saturday, both available for live streaming on the CBC Sports website and the CBC Gem app.