Lindsey Vonn, the renowned alpine ski racer, made a highly anticipated comeback on Saturday at Copper Mountain. After a nearly six-year hiatus from the sport due to injuries, she competed in a lower-level FIS downhill race. The 40-year-old Vonn showed her determination as she took on the challenging course.

Lindsey Vonn's Return to the Skiing Circuit

First Race: A Stepping Stone on the Comeback Trail

In the first downhill race on Saturday, Vonn finished 24th. She was just 1.44 seconds behind the winning time of 1 minute, 5.79 seconds set by Mirjam Puchner of Austria. Despite the relatively low finish, her presence on the course was a significant moment. There were 43 racers in total, and the weather was cool but mostly sunny, creating ideal conditions for the competition. Moments after crossing the finish line, Vonn bent over to catch her breath, clearly feeling the effort of the race. She then interacted with the crowd, signing autographs and posing for photos before taking the ski lift back up the mountain. This showed her connection with the skiing community and her eagerness to be part of the action again.

Second Downhill and Super-G Competitions

There was a second downhill race scheduled for later in the day, and a pair of super-G competitions were planned for Sunday. Vonn is competing in a series of FIS races with the goal of improving her ranking. By achieving the necessary results, she hopes to be eligible to enter World Cup events this season. This shows her ambition and drive to regain her former glory on the international stage.

Record-Breaking Career and Recent Challenges

When Vonn left the sport, her 82 World Cup race victories stood as a record for a woman and were close to the all-time Alpine record of 86 held by Swedish standout Ingemar Stenmark. However, in January 2023, Mikaela Shiffrin surpassed Vonn's mark, now having 99 wins, making her the most successful alpine ski racer in history. Shiffrin is currently sidelined after a crash in a giant slalom event in Killington, Vermont. The next World Cup races for the women's circuit will be held in a week in nearby Beaver Creek, Colorado. Vonn has not announced a specific timeline for her return to the World Cup scene, but her participation in these FIS races is a step in the right direction. Vonn's last major race was in February 2019, when she finished third in a downhill during the world championships in Sweden. At that time, she was still near the top of her game, but the cumulative injuries over the years took a toll, leading her to retire. However, she had a partial knee replacement last April and felt confident enough to give racing another try.

Competing with Big Names

There were several big names in the field on Saturday. Swiss racer Michelle Gisin, Federica Brignone and Marta Bassino of Italy, and Cornelia Huetter of Austria were all vying for victory. Additionally, 45-year-old Sarah Schleper, who once represented the United States but now competes for Mexico, added to the star-studded field. This shows the depth and competitiveness of the alpine skiing world.AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing