Lindsey Vonn’s comeback might last a little longer than she initially planned.
To be clear, this is still going to be Vonn’s last season of ski racing. But after winning the World Cup downhill at St. Moritz on Friday, Vonn said she might have to rethink when her season is going to end.
‘I thought I was going to retire after the last race of the Olympics because I wasn’t sure I’d be competitive for a (season) title,’ Vonn said. ‘I think I might need to change my approach.’
The win in the season’s first downhill puts Vonn first in the rankings of that discipline and 16th in the overall standings. Vonn has won eight season titles in downhill, the last in 2016.
Part of Vonn’s motivation for ending her nearly six-year retirement was the Milano Cortina Olympics. Cortina is where she made her first World Cup podium, winning a bronze in the downhill in 2004, and 12 of her 83 wins have come there. Ending her career there, with the super-G on Feb. 12, would be fitting.
Vonn also plans to race the downhill Feb. 8 and team combined Feb. 10.
But there are six speed races after the Olympics, and it will be hard for Vonn to walk away if she’s in contention for a season title. Which she will be if she keeps skiing like she did Friday, winning by almost a full second.
‘Still a couple of mistakes but, in general, I was really happy with the way I skied,’ Vonn said afterward. ‘With the first (race) of the season going this well, I’m very excited about what’s to come.’