BERLIN, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Lindsey Vonn's shrill cheers filled the air in Swiss ski region St. Moritz, while thousands of fans erupted with excitement.
The American alpine skiing legend raised her arms while lying in the snow after crossing the finish line of the World Cup downhill race, securing her 83rd podium top at age 41 ahead of the Austria's Magdalena Egger (24) and Mirjam Puchner (33).
Ahead of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, her perfect run marked a message to her younger competitors. "I am back, I am happy, I am thrilled," she enthusiastically shouted, enjoying an advantage of nearly a second.
Vonn's story as a fact might be one of the enchanting ones in winter sports history.
Admitting that her body was broken beyond repair, the 2010 downhill gold medallist retired in 2019, and more than five years later, she made a controversial comeback amid widespread criticism.
A partial knee prosthesis in April 2024 dramatically changed her trajectory.
While comments accused her of showmanship, the Minnesota-born athlete gradually crawled her way back to a competitive shape.
"Men reach their best shape in skiing at age 40. Why shouldn't women do the same?" she responded to critics.
Despite facing disappointing training and race experiences, the athlete increased her training efforts and optimized her staff with former Norwegian top skier Aksel Svindal.
Recently, she announced that she would focus entirely on the 2026 Olympics and retire after the event if no World Cup medal is within reach in the season's remaining races.
After her St. Moritz thunderclap, Vonn could hardly control her emotions. When on the phone with relatives, tears ran down her face, while enthusiastic cheers followed for the oldest competitor in the Swiss Alps.
"I can do better. It wasn't a perfect race. But precisely that gives me confidence; I don't have to meet my limits to be fast," she told German TV in perfect German after addressing US teammates about the track's challenges via team radio.
Coach Svindal praised his athlete's encouragement and said that the challenge triggered her best.
Vonn admitted that she felt insecure a year ago. "But all that talking about my comeback gave me motivation. I so hardly wanted to give it a try," the two-time Olympic bronze medal winner and two-time World Champion said.
"I had a pleasant life with skiing for many years, and it will be the same shortly, but I didn't want to leave the sport I love so much as long as my mindset told me that it can't be the end." ■
