Lindsey Vonn concluded her comeback season at age 40 with a second-place finish in a World Cup super-G race Sunday that was won by Swiss standout Lara Gut-Behrami.
1st podium finish on circuit in 7 years; Swiss standout Gut-Behrami wins super-GPat Graham · The Associated Press
· Posted: Mar 23, 2025 2:46 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago
Sunday’s second-place finish in a women’s super-G was Lindsey Vonn’s 138th career World Cup podium in her 408th start on the circuit. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Lindsey Vonn concluded her comeback season at age 40 with a second-place finish in a World Cup super-G race Sunday that was won by Swiss standout Lara Gut-Behrami.
Vonn found her vintage form while flying down the twisting and steep Challenger course at the World Cup finals in Sun Valley, Idaho. The American pumped her ski poles after glancing at the scoreboard as the large crowd roared.
This was Vonn’s first World Cup podium spot since March 15, 2018, when she finished third in a super-G in Are, Sweden. Vonn came out of retirement this season after a partial knee replacement.
“As much as I love skiing, it’s been a hard road,” Vonn said after the race. “I just continue to prove that anything is possible. I’ve been knocked down so many times in my life personally, physically, mentally, beat down and I always pick myself back up. It’s not always easy.
“It’s actually really [expletive] hard work. But that’s what it takes, putting one foot in front of the other and getting through the hard days. When you keep putting one foot in front of the other, it leads you to a place like today.”
Vonn becomes the oldest female alpine ski racer to step on the podium of a World Cup race by six years.
WATCH | Vonn earns her 138th career World Cup podium in Sunday super-G:
Lindsey Vonn claims her 1st World Cup medal since returning to competition after retirement
American Lindsey Vonn skied to a silver medal Sunday at the Sun Valley, Idaho World Cup super-G race, her first medal since returning to competition.
It was Vonn’s 138th career World Cup podium in her 408th World Cup start. She is within one of tying the most starts by a female racer, a mark held by Renate Goetschl of Austria.
Not that 34-year-old Italian racer Federica Brignone is all that surprised.
“She’s Lindsey Vonn,” Brignone said. “She’s not somebody coming back from another injury. She has qualities and she’s an amazing champion. Today, she put all the pieces [together] and did an amazing race.”
WATCH l Vonn talks about knee replacement and comeback journey:
Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami wins Sun Valley super-G race and season title
Lara Gut-Behrami picks up her 47th World Cup win to capture the sixth super-G Crystal Globe of her career.
Gut-Behrami finished in one minute 12.35 seconds, edging Vonn by 1.29 (1:13.64) to earn the season-long super-G Crystal Globe by overtaking Italian racer Federica Brignone. Gut-Behrami trailed by five points heading into Sunday’s race.
Gut-Behrami found plenty of speed and took some calculated risks to glide through the course. Brignone finished third in 1:13.68, 1.33 seconds behind Gut-Behrami.
The final season-long super-G standings ended up Gut-Behrami, Brignone and Sofia Goggia of Italy.
WATCH | Victorious Gut-Behrami finishes season atop super-G standings:
‘I’ve never fallen out of love with ski racing’ Lindsey Vonn on her comeback to skiing
American alpine ski racer, Lindsey Vonn, talks about her knee replacement and her journey back into skiing, ahead of the World Championships in Saalbach, Austria.
“Two days ago, I finally found the happiness again on skis,” Gut-Behrami said. “It’s easier to ski fast when you’re enjoying what you’re doing. I’ve been looking for that the entire season.”
On Saturday, Brignone officially clinched the downhill discipline after the race was cancelled, along with the overall title.
No Canadians were entered in Sunday’s competition.
The next race at World Cup finals is Tuesday with a women’s giant slalom.
With files from CBC Sports
