Industry News
Lindsey Vonn, who this season returned to competitive ski racing after nearly six years of retirement, reassured fans she’s “good” following a fall during the Downhill Training on the Olympia delle Tofane course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on Thursday, January 16. Vonn’s protective airbag deployed under her suit during the crash, helping soften the impact. She skied to the finish area before heading into a tent for treatment. Her team later confirmed she suffered no broken bones, only bruises. “I just caught a lot of air off the second-to-last jump, and my ski kind of caught funny,” Vonn explained in an interview with the Associated Press. “My bum is sore, but otherwise, I’m good.”
While Vonn’s Downhill training run ended with a DNF, Thursday’s training run was instead dominated by the Italians on homesoil, with Federica Brignone in first, Sofia Goggia in second, and Nadia Delago in third. USA’s Isabella Wright finished the training in eighth, Breezy Johnson in 15th, and Jacqui Wiles in 17th.
Despite the fall, Vonn plans to compete in the weekend’s races. This weekend will see a Downhill race on Saturday, January 18, and a Super-G race on Sunday, January 19. The 40-year-old’s comeback story has captivated the ski world since her announcement last October, following a successful titanium knee replacement surgery in April this year. Vonn retired in March 2019 as one of the sport’s most decorated athletes, with 82 World Cup wins, four FIS Alpine World Cup Overall titles, seven World Championship medals, and an Olympic gold.
Her return to the FIS World Cup circuit began with a trial forerunner run in Beaver Creek, Colorado, where she posted an impressive time that secured her wildcard entry into December’s Super-G in St. Moritz. After finishing an impressive 14th at her first World Cup race in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Vonn went from strength to strength in her subsequent races, placing sixth in the Downhill last weekend in St. Anton, Austria, and fourth the following day in the Super-G race.
Today’s fall interrupted what has so far been a picture-perfect comeback journey, but the legendary ski racer assures everyone she will be back for training tomorrow and will compete at Cortina on the weekend. Many hold high expectations for Vonn for this weekend. The Olympia delle Tofane course is often referred to as Vonn’s “living room” since she has won a total of 12 World Cups at Cortina.
