Lindsey Vonn achieved a remarkable milestone on January 17, 2026, by securing her fifth consecutive World Cup podium finish during the downhill event in Tarvisio, Italy. Competing under challenging conditions, Vonn finished third, solidifying her status as a leading athlete in the run-up to the Milano Cortina Olympics.
The race unfolded with fog enveloping the course, yet Vonn showcased her skills on the 845-meter track. Italian skier Nicol Delago delighted the home crowd with her first career World Cup victory, clocking a time of 1 minute, 46.28 seconds. She edged out Germany’s Kira Weidle-Winkelmann, who finished just two-tenths of a second behind. Vonn followed closely, finishing only 0.06 seconds off Weidle-Winkelmann’s time, with an impressive total of 1:46.54.
Vonn had expressed concerns prior to the race about how the long gliding sections of the course might challenge her. Her fears materialized in the Cappia segment, where she ranked seventh in speed. Nevertheless, the 41-year-old athlete accelerated through the steep Muro Lungo section, noted for its 47% gradients, where she recorded the fastest top speed in the field at 136.3 kilometers per hour.
Vonn’s performance included a spectacular leap off the final jump, allowing her to maintain momentum down the side hill of Prati Salman into the Variante FIS, where she achieved the quickest final sector of the day. This podium finish marks Vonn’s 144th in her illustrious career, further establishing her as a dominant force in women’s skiing.
In addition to Vonn’s achievements, defending downhill world champion Breezy Johnson tied for sixth place with Italy’s Laura Pirovano. Fellow American Jacqueline Wiles, who previously secured a podium finish in Zauchensee, came in 13th. The U.S. team displayed strong performance overall, with six athletes placing in the top 30. Allison Mollin, Haley Cutler, and Isabella Wright finished in 19th, 23rd, and 29th place, respectively.
Currently leading the downhill globe standings, Vonn remains the only skier to have reached the podium in all five women’s downhill races this season. She began the series with a victory in St. Moritz and added another in Zauchensee. The last time she achieved five consecutive podiums in a single discipline was during the 2017-2018 season. Vonn also ranks third in both the overall and super-G standings.
The Tarvisio event marks the fourth World Cup downhill race held in the location. Vonn has a history of strong performances here, having narrowly missed victory in 2009, finishing just 0.01 seconds behind Gina Stechert. She also claimed victories in the super-G in subsequent years.
The competition continues with a super-G race scheduled for January 18, followed by a pair of speed races planned in Crans Montana, Switzerland, on January 30 and 31. The Olympic downhill event is set for February 7, 2026. This article will be updated as new information becomes available.
