Lindsey Vonn Takes First World Cup Win After Injury

After two complex knee reconstruction surgeries, Lindsey Vonn has returned to the slopes in an effort to bring back former glory as a dominating force on the downhill. In Friday’s World Cup downhill, she finished nearly a full second behind the winner, Tina Maze of Slovenia, finishing eighth. A second race on Saturday, however, had a different story with Lindsey Vonn taking the win in the World Cup downhill in Alberta, Canada. This was Vonn’s first victory in two years.

“I definitely think I shocked a few people.”

Lindsey Vonn was one of three Americans who swept the podium Saturday, reports the New York Times. Stacey Cook and Julia Mancuso took second and third, respectively, with times of 0.49 and 0.57 seconds behind Lindsey’s win. The NYT says it was the first time that American men or women have swept a World Cup podium in any event. It was also the fifteenth time that Vonn has won at Lake Louise, where the race was held.

In video of Lindsey Vonn’s runs, seen on CBC in Canada, she is in perfect form going down the hill, absorbing bumps without losing her aerodynamic tuck and forward-leaning speed stance. She finished her victory with a back flip to celebrate an impressive run.

Earlier, Lindsey Vonn had told reporters in the New York Times that she was not expecting a great season, just a solid new start, after having had a short training period due to recovery from her surgeries. Doctors had released her for full activity, provided she wear a brace when skiing, but the short training season had meant she didn’t feel she was in top shape for the grueling game. She smiled after the race, though, saying she hoped to “keep the ball rolling” after this win.

Teammate Mancuso said to CBC that having Vonn on the team changes dynamics for the better. “We missed having someone dominant around,” she told the camera, saying that with Vonn you can always count on a good performance and team-boosting energy.

The World Cup series of downhill is Lindsey Vonn’s comeback after torn ligaments and a broken bone in her right knee ended her season in 2013 while racing super-G. Her attempt to ski for the Winter Olympics was also shut down as she re-tore reconstructed ligaments and sprained her knee last year. Her second knee surgery was undertaken in January.

“You know I always believed in myself. I never gave up that belief but at the same time, it’s hard not knowing.”

Well, now she knows.