Alpine skiing: Vonn’s comeback electrifies the speed scene

After more than five years, US ski star Lindsey Vonn returns to the World Cup stage in St. Moritz. She has already given a foretaste of her capabilities – but that doesn’t stop the critics from falling silent.

To loud cheers, Lindsey Vonn pulled up her ski poles and flashed a big smile. No, she hadn’t made her official comeback to the World Cup yet – even if it felt exactly that way on Saturday. Vonn started as a forerunner before the descent in Beaver Creek and gave almost a hint of what she is still capable of after more than 2,000 days away from competition.

Perfect stage in St. Moritz

An official time was not measured, but according to various media reports, Vonn only needed 1:33.16 minutes for the infamous “Birds of Prey” – a good 0.80 seconds behind the Austrian winner of the day, Cornelia Hütter. The result would have been enough for the top 10 that day. “Craziness” Vonn gushed afterwards: “I’m really happy to be back and feel the speed on my face again.“

Things will get serious in St. Moritz on Saturday (December 21, 2024) – both for Vonn and for her competitors. In the posh ski resort in Switzerland, of all places, the now 40-year-old American will compete in her first World Cup race in 2,162 days in front of high society in the Super-G (from 10:25 a.m. in the Sportschau live stream). In his luggage: a lot of self-confidence and an artificial knee joint. And that’s exactly what she seems to feel completely comfortable with.

With the new knee the desire comes back

When Vonn officially retired from ski racing on February 10, 2019, his body simply couldn’t and didn’t want to anymore. The permanently damaged joint in her right knee had tormented her in the last years of her career. Since tearing her cruciate ligament in 2013, she has suffered further injuries almost every year, recalled Vonn. “I made it through all the injuries because I love skiing. No injury ever held me back – until I finally broke.”

She has been wearing an artificial knee joint made of titanium since February and can now apparently race down the slopes freely again. “It’s totally different than before, I’m really happy about that“said the 2010 Olympic downhill champion. “Pain 24 hours a day“are a thing of the past.”It’s wonderful. I feel stronger than I did in my mid and late twenties. I know what I can do when my body cooperates. And this titanium part works quite well.“

Vonn leaves criticism cold

As great as Vonn is looking forward to returning to the World Cup circus, the criticism of her comeback is just as harsh. Quite a few accuse the polarizing US star of a desire for recognition and recklessness. After all, in the speed disciplines, enormous forces act on the body at speeds of up to 130 km/h. For many people, tackling such races with an artificial joint is like riding on a razor’s edge.

Markus Wasmaier, two-time Olympic champion in Lillehammer in 1994, spoke of “Fooling“. The Austrian Franz Klemm even threw one at Vonn.”Full shot” in the current women’s World Cup, one or two athletes are likely to be critical of the return of the 82-time World Cup winner. Vonn herself leaves it cold. She ignores the critical voices. She has always been polarizing, “people love and hate me, I don’t know why. I’m just me.“

But doubts still remain. Not least due to the failed comeback of Marcel Hirscher, who also returned this winter after a five-year break from the World Cup and tore his cruciate ligament in training after three races. But such a scenario does not deter Vonn. Falls are just part of it. “It was like that when I was 16 – and it’s like that now, at 40. I may fall, but that’s life.“

Vonn in focus after Shiffrin injury

How competitive Vonn actually is will be shown in St. Moritz. Either way, she will be in the spotlight. Especially since her US teammate Mikaela Shiffrin, the dominant driver of the moment, is out until further notice. The competition is likely to be even more motivated. Above all, Sofia Goggia, who promptly won the Super-G in Beaver Creek after an eight-month injury break.

Precisely where Vonn had left a competitive impression as a forerunner. That according to her own statement she is not yet “100 percent“Had given, can confidently be understood as a declaration of war.”The time for this has not yet come“, said the four-time overall World Cup winner from Minnesota after her acclaimed performance. Maybe the time has already come on Saturday in St. Moritz.