Impressive Vonn fourth as Macuga takes first World Cup win

SANKT ANTON M ARLBERG, Austria: Lindsey Vonn took another impressive step on the comeback trail as she finished fourth in the super-G in Sankt Anton, Austria, on Sunday, crossing the line 1.24 seconds behind first-time World Cup winner and fellow-American Lauren Macuga.

Vonn, whose right knee was partially replaced in April by a titanium prosthesis enabling her to make a comeback on the circuit at the age of 40 after six years away from the sport, had already taken an impressive sixth place in the downhill on Saturday.

This time, wearing bib 31 and in only her third race of the winter, she carved her way smoothly down the piste, nudging in front of Lara Gut-Behrami and finishing 0.32sec behind third-placed Federica Brignone.

Vonn said she wasn´t “100 percent” but her form suggests she may be building well for next month´s World Championships in Saalbach, Austria. “It was a real rodeo throughout the race,” she said. “I couldn´t see anything, the visibility was poor. All I did was fight all the way to the finish. Fourth place with these mistakes is good enough.”

The 22-year-old Macuga, meanwhile, danced with joy after her clean run of 1min 17.51sec took her to her first ever World Cup podium. “I still don´t know what happened,” said Macuga who finished 0.68sec ahead of Austria´s Stephanie Venier and 0.92sec clear of Italian Brignone who won the downhill on Saturday.

“It was difficult, it was bumpy the whole way down but I lucked out with the light. The sun came out a little bit for me and I just took advantage of that. “I didn´t think it would be a winning run. I knew it was going to be good.”

Macuga, who finished ninth in Saturday´s downhill, recorded her first top-10 just under a year ago and has been building steadily since, with a best Super G result of fifth in Kvitfjell in March 2024 and a fourth place in the downhill in Beaver Creek in December.

The 2022 World Junior Ski Championship downhill bronze medallist was surprised to learn she had done something that Vonn had never achieved in becoming the first American skier to win a Super G in St. Anton.

“Oh my God, I can´t believe it, it´s so exciting, that´s so cool,” said a breathless Macuga. “I don´t even think the nerves have settled in. I am just waiting for it to hit me. I know it´s going to. It´s just so exciting. This is a dream. I have been dreaming this for ever.” The women´s World Cup continues on Tuesday with the slalom in Flachau, Austria. The speed specialists meet again in Cortina, Italy, on January 18.