Alpine skiing in St. Moritz: 41-year-old Lindsey Vonn wins downhill – with partial knee prosthesis

Whenever one of the A-Team’s adventurous plans came to fruition, Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith lit a cigar and flashed a broad, triumphant smile. “I love it when a plan comes together,” Smith said at such moments, he loved it when one of his plans came together. Shortly afterwards, the A-Team fanfare and the end credits of this action classic from the 1980s usually played.

Lindsey Vonn didn’t have a cigar in her mouth in the finish area in sunny St. Moritz on Friday morning, of course. But a triumphant smile, like Smith would have shown, was visible on the 41-year-old. Her own daring plan had worked just as miraculously: Vonn not only won the first downhill race of the ski season – she sent a very clear signal at the start of the premier discipline, two months and three days before the Olympic downhill race in Cortina.

A close second separated Vonn and the rest of the women’s downhill world. The competition delivered a thrilling competition on one of the best routes in the World Cup with numerous lead changes, and the Germans Emma Aicher (sixth) and Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (ninth) also had their hopes up. In the end, everyone, even the dominant Italian Sofia Goggia, agreed that Vonn couldn’t be beaten this time. “I thought she would drive well today,” said Goggia: “But I didn’t think she would be a second ahead of everyone else.”

After World Cup victory number 83, Vonn herself was mainly busy in the finish area accepting congratulations for her achievement. An incredible drive in the technical middle section of the St. Moritz track was enough for her to gain the lead. Even if she still had doubts about it herself: “I felt that I had a high speed, but I wasn’t driving 100 percent cleanly,” Vonn said on ARD: “Although that probably had something to do with the speed.” Too fast to drive accurately, maybe that’s their motto for the season.

She gained six kilograms of muscle mass, says Vonn

But it’s really no coincidence that Vonn delivered one of the best races of her career at the start of the season. It’s the result of an ambitious plan with a new A-team in the background, with whom Vonn worked intensively in the summer and fall – perhaps also because her comeback last winter didn’t go quite as planned.

From a results perspective, a Super-G podium finish in Sun Valley in March was the highlight of the American’s late return with a partial prosthesis in her left knee. Otherwise, Vonn’s past season was characterized by risky but sometimes unsafe rides at the limit, dissatisfaction with the material and the realization that one can experience age discrimination in sport even at the age of just over 40: The voices of those who criticized Vonn’s comeback with excessive severity did not become quieter over the winter, even though the knee was demonstrably holding up. But Vonn’s answers became louder: In interviews, she defended herself against accusations of taking too much risk. Always knowing that she could give the best answer on skis.

According to her own statement, she worked on this more than ever before in the summer. Vonn recently said she had gained six kilograms of muscle mass, was pain-free and “physically possibly in the best shape of my life.” And then there is the other return of an old friend to the ski circuit: Aksel Lund Svindal, 42, has been Vonn’s coach since August. That’s a remarkable combination of two people who are both known for their tremendous discipline and willingness to take risks. And they combine more experience than some World Cup nations: Vonn and Svindal together, it’s a bit like Serena Williams working on her comeback in tennis with Roger Federer.

“We talk about details, it’s so much fun. His perspective opened my eyes,” Vonn said recently in one of her few interviews, which is also part of the new strategy. Last year was a lot about publicity and attention right from the start – Vonn first had to show and open up to the ski world again. Not everyone bought it. Behind closed doors, many suspected that her comeback was more about finances than she would ever admit.

In view of the pictures from St. Moritz, it all sounds somewhat absurd. The spectators were able to see an overjoyed athlete who has achieved great things throughout her career and who has redefined the boundaries of women’s skiing, especially in the speed area. And she doesn’t stop there, even if she now races against athletes for whom she is more of a mother figure.

Svindal fell into Vonn’s arms at the finish area, not overly euphoric, but with that Norwegian calm that he always radiates. And which probably also has an effect on Vonn, who has often been too impatient in the past year: at the age of 41, she looks more than ever like a woman with a daring but clear plan. Only the credits aren’t rolling yet.