Two super-Gs were scheduled in St. Moritz, one was enough to make an impressive comeback with a 14th place. Opinions differ on Lindsey Vonn's spectacular return.
22.12.2024, 15:16
22.12.2024, 15:59
SDA
"It was a comfortable run" and she still had plenty of reserves, said Lindsey Vonn after her first World Cup race since February 2019. "I didn't want to risk so much, I wanted to finish." She achieved everything she wanted. "I know I can still be a lot faster," said the former American speed queen warningly. And: "I'm doing very well. The knee is not swollen and doesn't hurt. I'm not thinking about it either, I'm just thinking about skiing."
The 82-time World Cup winner thus received confirmation that the partial prosthesis in her right knee also works in competition mode and that she can shift up a gear in the upcoming races. "I will take more risks and ski a tighter line. The results will come." This 14th place doesn't make the competition nervous - not yet, said Vonn: "Not now, but later, after a few races."
It is undoubtedly a spectacular comeback. Lindsey Vonn is 40 years old, almost six years have passed since the 2010 Olympic downhill champion was forced to retire due to physical wear and tear. Opinions on this crazy undertaking are divided, however, as the reactions of former racers in particular show.
No mustard from Lara
Lara Gut-Behrami: "The whole world is talking about Lindsey. I have nothing to add. It's not necessary for everyone to add their two cents." The Ticino native two days before the race when asked where she sees herself at 40: "I hope to have a few children and enjoy life with my husband."
Sofia Goggia: "After all the injuries we've been through, it's wonderful that we're both back here now."
Michelle Gisin, fifteenth, one place behind Vonn: "Lindsey finished ahead of me on a technically difficult course - hats off!"
Cornelia Hütter, the winner: "Age doesn't matter with Vonn. She'll still have her brilliant feeling on the skis when she's 80."
Federica Brignone (34): "On the one hand, it's crazy after so many knee operations and five missed seasons. On the other hand, we only live once, and if it's what you love and want most and you feel you can do it, why not?"
Marta Bassino: "A return to wonder."
Impressed experts
Tina Weirather (SRF expert and former competitor): "Hats off. She had some world-class turns and a margin at the same time. The dose was perfect."
Stefan Abplanalp (SRF expert and former coach of Vonn) in the run-up: "You can see that skiing is her life. Lindsey is a star in her country, can be seen at the Oscars or New York Fashion Week. She doesn't need skiing to be in the spotlight. She comes back because she loves this sport more than anything else in the world. She is physically ready and her fitness is still at a top level. On the skis, she needs to make up a few training kilometers."
Nicole Schmidhofer (ORF expert and former competitor): "If she has a better starting number, then it's going to be really tough."
Felix Neureuther (ARD expert): "I'm so happy that she's back. It's a great comeback. Lindsey approached the race carefully. Without the half-second deficit from the easy upper part of the course, she is sixth or seventh. That shows what huge potential she has. It's her decision to come back, so let's let her. Let's just enjoy watching her."
Unsympathetic legends
Pirmin Zurbriggen (Swiss skiing legend) in the run-up: "I don't understand it. At some point you have to say: there are others, younger ones - my time is over. (...) Lindsey has probably suffered from no longer being a celebrated champion. There is a danger that she will tear up her artificial knee. And in such a way that she won't be able to do sport properly for the rest of her life."
Sonja Nef (Swiss skiing legend) in the run-up: "She can't be that stupid."
Michaela Dorfmeister (former Austrian ski racer) in the run-up: "She should see a psychologist. Her thirst for recognition is probably huge. (...) Getting back into it now at 40, after all these serious injuries. I think that's extremely dangerous. Does she want to kill herself? I hope for her sake that it goes well."
