Sofia Goggia further cemented her status as the gold medal favorite in women’s downhill, winning Saturday for the fourth time on the 2026 Olympic course in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The Italian speedster finished a comfortable 0.42 seconds ahead of Norway’s Kajsa Vickhoff Lie and 0.55 ahead of compatriot Federica Brignone.
Meanwhile, Lindsey Vonn, in her much-anticipated World Cup comeback at age 40, finished a distant 20th in her first race in Cortina in nearly six years. The American skiing icon, who holds the record with 12 career wins at the Italian resort, wasted speed that could have propelled her into the top 10 with a costly mistake near the end of her run.
Goggia Bows to Majestic Olympia delle Tofane Course
After crossing the finish line on another textbook sunny day in Cortina, the charismatic Goggia quickly unclipped her skis and bowed down toward the mighty Olympia delle Tofane piste, basking in the adulation of the sizable crowd. With previous Cortina downhill triumphs in 2018, 2022, and 2023, she has developed a special mastery of and reverence for the highly technical course that will host the marquee speed events at next year’s Milan-Cortina Winter Games.
Vonn Vows to Keep Pushing in Comeback
For Vonn, her 20th place result marked an improvement from her 14th place showing in a super-G in St. Moritz last month that kicked off her comeback. She then notched 6th and 4th place finishes in a downhill and super-G, respectively, last weekend in St. Anton.
I’m not satisfied with 20th, but I have to keep things in perspective. I still have some work to do to get back on the podium, but I’m moving in the right direction.
Lindsey Vonn to the Associated Press
Vonn, who had her right knee surgically rebuilt with a titanium implant to facilitate her return to racing, told the AP on Thursday that she plans to retire for good after the 2026 Olympics. The 2010 Olympic downhill champion and the winningest female Alpine skier in history with 82 World Cup victories seems determined to author a storybook ending to her illustrious career on the sport’s biggest stage.
Looking Ahead to Sunday’s Super-G
Vonn and Goggia will renew their Cortina rivalry on Sunday in a super-G on the same Olympia delle Tofane course. While Goggia will be favored based on her sterling recent form, Vonn will aim to further sharpen her speed, technique and consistency as she eyes a triumphant Olympic swan song a little over a year from now in the heart of the Italian Dolomites.
