After six years of absence, Lindsey Vonn makes a thunderous return to the World Cup circuit. Last weekend in Austria, in St Anton, the American with 82 career victories went for a sixth place in the downhill and finished fourth in the Super G. The podium or even victory can arrive very quickly. And why not from Cortina D’Ampezzo, this weekend.
Like a feeling of traveling through time. But that’s the reality, six years later. Lindsey Vonn in the starting gate, repeated tics with her sticks, the only new thing: a huge knee pad on the right side. The American was operated on, a piece of titanium was put in the knee and since then Vonn has been skiing free, without pain. “She’s there, she’s enjoying it. She’s a fan and it shows when she skis,” smiles Blaise Giezendanner, French downhiller.
“I’m very admiring. She’s a very nice girl. The few times we trained with her, she was very human, very smiling. She doesn’t have this haughty star image,” adds the Frenchman. Because the Blues were able to see it carve a few curves in the United States, during the Beaver Creek stage. “I saw that she was training. But I didn’t know that she had the idea of coming back. But that she is coming back to the forefront doesn’t shock me at all,” emphasizes Adrien Théaux.
Stunning results
What do Théaux and Vonn have in common? Both are 40 years old, both are the elders of the World Cup circuit. “She stopped five years, it’s huge. When you stop, having spoken about it with elders, after a while you can no longer start because physically you are no longer ready and so are your eyes. “She has the experience, she knows her abilities too. She didn’t do it overnight. She put all of this in place, it matured for a long time,” according to Théaux.
For her first descent in six years, Lindsey Vonn went for a sixth place, in St Anton, 30 hundredths off the podium. “I love the feeling of being back. I still made a few mistakes, but I think for my first run in six years it’s a good start, I’m not far from the podium. I had a lot of fun. I haven’t been outside the top 30 since I was 17, I think, so when you think about it, it’s a great start to a downhill winter,” Vonn responded. at the end of his race last weekend.
-Once again, this week, the American legend will be expected. During the first training session, Vonn fell, without gravity, and will be at the start of the Cortina d’Ampezzo descent in Italy. A place that she particularly likes. The American won twelve times in the Italian station. Blaise Giezendanner and Adrien Théaux are banking on a podium finish for the American. “I only want to see her raise her arms on the podium in Cortina,” smiles Giezendanner. “Winning I don’t know but the podium is possible. I don’t know if she will make a globe or what but a podium is a certainty”, adds Théaux.
“It’s going to go even further and faster”
And both are impressed by the skier’s rapid adaptation. “Skiing has changed in six years. And seeing her perform so quickly… aside from that, she skis extremely well, she has adapted to the new equipment. I want to see her continue. The impression she gives It’s because she’s having fun. And skiing is not an easy sport. Having fun in alpine skiing isn’t easy, emphasizes Blaise, it’s a great message to send to all girls. .” Adrien Théaux, rarely asked about his female counterparts, is full of praise for Lindsey Vonn.
“She’s living again, she’s taking it with more perspective, she’s enjoying herself. She doesn’t have much to lose. She has enormous potential. She’s managed to put it back in place. I think she’ll be fine again further and faster.” See you Saturday at 11 a.m. to experience perhaps the 67th downhill podium in Lindsey Vonn’s career.
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