In the initial World Cup downhill training of the season, Lindsey Vonn opted for a more cautious skiing style. This season marks a comeback after her injury hiatus. Despite the challenging foggy conditions, Vonn secured the 10th position, closely trailing the leader Ragnhild Mowinckel from Norway.
Vonn expressed a mix of excitement and nervousness being back on the course. Although she refrained from taking unnecessary risks and skied with precision, she admitted to feeling a bit more jittery than usual. Vonn reflected that she mostly stuck to her planned line but described the final jump as a bit of a thrill.
Having suffered a knee injury in November, Vonn is gearing up for upcoming downhill races scheduled for Friday and Saturday, followed by a significant super-G event on Sunday. The seasoned athlete has intentions to retire after the next season.
Looking ahead, the USA needs five more wins to break the longstanding record of all-time victories held by Swedish skier Ingemar Stenmark. Vonn boasts 12 wins in Cortina alone. Austrian skier Tamara Tippler finished second in the training session, trailing the winner Mowinckel by 0.06 seconds. France’s Romane Miradoli claimed the third spot, trailing by 0.39 seconds. The training session experienced delays due to fog, with Vonn remarking on a thrilling moment when navigating through a narrow passage flanked by rocky walls.
