Lindsey Vonn (USA) continued her hot start to the 2025-26 FIS World Cup campaign by claiming third place at the downhill in Val D'Isere (+0.35). In her four races so far, Vonn has found the podium three times, which includes a historic win in St. Moritz last weekend where she became the oldest Alpine skier in history, man or woman, to win a Cup event, shattering both records. Still, the 41-year-old is hungry for more.

“I wish I could have been a little bit better today,” she told reporters after the race. “I thought I executed the middle section, where I didn't ski well in training, but on the bottom, I made a big mistake, and I lost a lot of time, so I was mad at myself for that.

“If you would have asked me last year if I would be happy with the podium, I would say abso-f*cking-lutely. I'm just gonna keep trying to improve, I have 49 more days until the Olympics start, so I know I'll be ready for that.”

Unlike her inconsistent 2024-25 season, Vonn is demonstrating early that elite performances are the rule rather than the exception. It was her 10th podium at the French piste and 142nd overall. Currently, she holds the downhill leader bib.

Speaking of 10, Cornelia Huetter (AUT) earned her 10th career Cup victory on Saturday, outpacing a field of 49 of the world’s top speed skiers with a time of 1:41.54. The win was a full-circle moment for Huetter, who secured her first ever Cup podium in Val D'Isere in 2013.

Germany once again had representation in a downhill top three, as Kira Weidle-Winkelmann grabbed second, her best result since 2022. It was the 29-year-old’s teammate Emma Aicher (GER) that impressed last week, winning a St. Moritz downhill and following it up with a slalom podium in Courchevel three days later. 

In what’s proving to be a recurring theme, three Americans finished in the top 20 and six in the top 30 — marks that the United States has reached in each race of the 2025-26 campaign, despite being without the nation’s highest ranked speed racer from last season, Lauren Macuga, who tore her ACL training at Copper Mountain in November.

Defending downhill world champion Breezy Johnson placed seventh (+0.61), an identical position to her training run a day prior. It was a welcome sign for the 29-year-old who missed the super-G in St. Moritz less than a week ago due to ongoing back pain that she called “the worst of my life.” The comments were alarming, especially for someone who has torn her ACL (twice), MCL and PCL. The most recent ACL tear occurred weeks before the 2022 Beijing Olympics, causing her to miss it.

Jacqueline Wiles (15th), Allison Mollin (22nd), Haley Cutler (27th) and Keely Cashman (28th) put together strong runs as well, collecting valuable points for a U.S. team that has its sights set on the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. More points unlock more roster spots at the Games, along with better starting positions for the athletes competing. 

Isabella Wright (USA) and Tricia Mangan (USA) finished 34th and 37th, respectively.

The women now turn their attention to Sunday for a super-G in Val D'Isere.