Sofia Goggia showcased her dominance in downhill skiing by claiming victory for the fourth time on the course set to host the Milan-Cortina Olympics next year. Meanwhile, Lindsey Vonn faced challenges in her World Cup comeback at the age of 40, finishing in 20th place after a mistake towards the end of her run.
Vonn expressed her gratitude for being back on the slopes after nearly six years of retirement, emphasizing the difficulty of the course and her ongoing adjustment to competitive skiing. Despite a crash in training that left her with minor injuries, Vonn remains determined to perform at her best in upcoming races.
Goggia, the Italian sensation, celebrated her triumph in Cortina, a venue that holds special significance for her. She paid homage to the course and the enthusiastic crowd, highlighting her emotional connection to the location where she has both triumphed and faced setbacks in the past.
The race saw Goggia finish comfortably ahead of Kajsa Vickhoff Lie of Norway and her Italian teammate Federica Brignone. Lie, a familiar face on the podium, demonstrated her consistency, while Brignone secured her first podium finish in Cortina and climbed to the top of the downhill and overall standings.
With this victory, Goggia claimed her second win of the season and the 26th of her career, maintaining a remarkable record of top-five finishes in every completed race this season.
Despite her 1.68-second lag behind Goggia, Vonn remained optimistic and determined to improve her performance in future competitions. The camaraderie between Vonn and Goggia was evident as the two athletes shared a moment of mutual respect and friendship at the finish line.
The event also saw Swiss champions Lara Gut-Behrami and Corinne Suter secure fourth and fifth place, respectively, with defending downhill World Cup champion Cornelia Huetter finishing in sixth place.
As the competition continues in Cortina, skiers and snowboarders are gearing up for the super-G event scheduled for the following day, with Vonn set to make her mark once again on the slopes.
On a picturesque day in Cortina, athletes navigated the challenging course characterized by high-speed turns, with Ester Ledecka registering the fastest speed of the day at 84.6 mph.
As the skiing season progresses, fans eagerly anticipate more thrilling performances and displays of sportsmanship on the slopes.
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