Lindsey Vonn Sets the Pace in St. Moritz Downhill Training, Marking a Triumphant Return to Form
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Lindsey Vonn, the American skiing icon, demonstrated her enduring prowess by achieving the fastest time in the first downhill training session in St. Moritz on Wednesday, signaling a remarkable return to competitive form. The 41-year-old completed the course in 1:30.95 minutes, setting the stage for a thrilling World Cup weekend.
A Comeback Story Continues
Vonn’s performance is particularly noteworthy given her recent history. She made a celebrated comeback last year after a five-year hiatus from the sport, and in March, secured a second-place finish at the World Cup finals in Sun Valley. This latest display of speed underscores her commitment to reclaiming her position at the top of the alpine skiing world. A key element of her renewed success appears to be the addition of Aksel Lund Svindal, a two-time Olympic champion, to her coaching team this summer. Sources indicate Svindal is focused on preparing Vonn for a medal bid at the Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in February.
International Competition Heats Up
The training session saw strong performances from several other athletes. Norway’s Kajsa Vickhoff Lie finished a close second, just 0.59 seconds behind Vonn. Italy’s Sofia Goggia and France’s Laura Gauche tied for third place, trailing by 0.71 seconds. While Vonn led the charge, the Austrian team appeared to be strategically conserving energy, with Mirjam Puchner achieving the best result for ÖSV in seventh place (+0.97 seconds) and Cornelia Hütter finishing tenth (+1.03 seconds).
Return to Racing for Ortlieb and Haaser
The St. Moritz event also marked the return of two Austrian athletes recovering from significant injuries. Nina Ortlieb made her comeback after eleven months sidelined by a serious lower leg injury sustained in Garmisch, finishing 16th with a time 1.33 seconds off the pace. Ricarda Haaser, recovering from a cruciate ligament tear suffered at the World Ski Championships in Saalbach in February, completed the course in 62nd place, 3.89 seconds behind Vonn.
“It’s fantastic to see Nina and Ricarda back on the slopes,” a senior official stated. “Their determination is inspiring, and their presence adds another layer of excitement to the competition.”
Race Schedule and Broadcast Information
The women’s speed weekend in St. Moritz continues with a downhill run scheduled for Friday at 10:15 a.m. and another on Saturday at 10:45 a.m. The weekend will conclude on Sunday at 10:45 a.m. with a Super-G race. All races will be broadcast live on ORF1 and streamed on ORF ON.
Full Training Results – Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Here’s a look at the top 20 finishers from Wednesday’s training session:
- Lindsey Vonn (USA) – 1:30.95
- Kajsa Vickhoff Lie (NOR) – +0.59
- Sofia Goggia (ITA) – 0.71
- Laura Gauche (FRA) – 0.71
- Jacqueline Wiles (USA) – 0.85
- Roman Miradoli (FRA) – 0.90
- Mirjam Puchner (AUT) – 0.97
- Isabella Wright (USA) – 1.01
- Camille Cerutti (FRA) – 1.01
- Cornelia Hütter (AUT) – 1.03
- Laura Pirovano (ITA) – 1.15
- Ariane Rädler (AUT) – 1.17
- Elena Curtoni (ITA) – 1.19
- Michelle Gisin (SUI) – 1.19
- Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (GER) – 1.19
- Nina Ortlieb (AUT) – 1.33
- Roberta Melesi (ITA) – 1.35
- Stuhec’s teeth (SLO) – 1.38
- Nicol Delago (ITA) – 1.39
- Keely Cashman (USA) – 1.43
The impressive showing by Vonn and the return of Ortlieb and Haaser promise a captivating weekend of alpine skiing in St. Moritz, setting the stage for a potentially historic season.
