Lindsey Vonn / GEPA pictures
Olympic Downhill Preview: Experience, Familiarity — and Lindsey Vonn’s Defining Gamble
The women’s Olympic downhill at Cortina d’Ampezzo, Olimpia delle Tofane, is unlike most Olympic downhill races. This is a course the field knows well, shifting the balance decisively toward experience, confidence, and proven speed — and narrowing the medal conversation to a familiar group of contenders.
This preview includes the official Olympic downhill start list and bibs, key contenders, Lindsey Vonn’s injury context, and how to watch the women’s race in Cortina.
Women’s World Cup Downhill — Podium Table (2025–26)
| Venue | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Moritz DH1 | 🇺🇸 Lindsey Vonn | 🇦🇹 Magdalena Egger | 🇦🇹 Mirjam Puchner |
| St. Moritz DH2 | 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher | 🇺🇸 Lindsey Vonn | 🇮🇹 Sofia Goggia |
| Val d’Isère | 🇦🇹 Cornelia Hütter | 🇩🇪 Kira Weidle-Winkelmann | 🇺🇸 Lindsey Vonn |
| Zauchensee | 🇺🇸 Lindsey Vonn | 🇳🇴 Kajsa Vickhoff Lie | 🇺🇸 Jacqueline Wiles |
| Tarvisio | 🇮🇹 Nicol Delago | 🇩🇪 Kira Weidle-Winkelmann | 🇺🇸 Lindsey Vonn |
Crans-Montana downhill was canceled after six skiers; no result recorded.
Downhill Standings Snapshot (after Tarvisio, 5 of 8 races)
- 🇺🇸 Lindsey Vonn (USA, 1984) — 400 pts
- 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher (GER, 2003) — −144
- 🇩🇪 Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (GER, 1996) — −168
- 🇮🇹 Laura Pirovano (ITA, 1997) — −193
- 🇮🇹 Nicol Delago (ITA, 1996) — −220 (T-5th)
- 🇮🇹 Sofia Goggia (ITA, 1992) — −220 (T-5th)
This group has produced the bulk of the season’s wins and podiums and represents the most likely source of Olympic medalists — and the winner.
Top WCSL (Downhill) — Ordered by Bib Number
- Bib 6 — 🇺🇸 Breezy Johnson (USA, 1996) — WCSL 5
- Bib 7 — 🇮🇹 Nicol Delago (ITA, 1996) — WCSL T-5
- Bib 8 — 🇮🇹 Laura Pirovano (ITA, 1997) — WCSL 6
- Bib 9 — 🇳🇴 Kajsa Vickhoff Lie (NOR, 1998) — WCSL 9
- Bib 10 — 🇩🇪 Emma Aicher (GER, 2003) — WCSL 3
- Bib 11 — 🇦🇹 Cornelia Hütter (AUT, 1992) — WCSL 2
- Bib 12 — 🇩🇪 Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (GER, 1996) — WCSL 7
- Bib 13 — 🇺🇸 Lindsey Vonn (USA, 1984) — WCSL 1
- Bib 15 — 🇮🇹 Sofia Goggia (ITA, 1992) — WCSL 4
- Bib 16 — 🇨🇭 Corinne Suter (SUI, 1994) — WCSL 10
Lindsey Vonn: the defining storyline
At 41, Lindsey Vonn enters the Olympic downhill as the season’s most consistent performer — and its biggest question mark.
Vonn tore her ACL in a downhill crash while racing the World Cup in Crans-Montana on Friday, Jan. 31, yet continued her Olympic buildup. She trained full-length on the knee in Cortina on Feb. 6 and is on the start list for the Olympic downhill on Feb. 8.
A two-time Olympic downhill medalist — gold in 2010 and bronze in 2018 — Vonn remains the winningest speed skier in history. Her bib 13 places her in the heart of the race, with Sofia Goggia skiing just two numbers later.
Skiing without an ACL is possible
Racing downhill without an ACL is rare, but not unprecedented.
Stifel U.S. Ski Team men’s downhill skier Erik Arvidsson said he raced for about a month with a completely severed ACL, including World Cup starts in Beaver Creek and Val Gardena / Gröden.
“Functionally the knee felt fine,” Arvidsson said, noting most of the pain came from a bone bruise rather than instability.
“It’s definitely possible,” he said. “People have done it.”
How Vonn’s knee responds at full speed remains the defining variable of the race.
🇺🇸 United States — Women’s Olympic Downhill
- Bib 6 — 🇺🇸 Breezy Johnson (1996) — Jackson Hole, WY; Rowmark Ski Academy; WC DH rank: 8
- Bib 13 — 🇺🇸 Lindsey Vonn (1984) — Vail, CO; Ski & Snowboard Club Vail; WC DH rank: 1
- Bib 17 — 🇺🇸 Jacqueline Wiles (1992) — Portland, OR; White Pass Ski Club; WC DH rank: 15
- Bib 24 — 🇺🇸 Isabella Wright (1997) — Salt Lake City, UT; Snowbird Sports Education Foundation; WC DH rank: 25
🇨🇦 Canada — Women’s Olympic Downhill
- Bib 21 — 🇨🇦 Valerie Grenier (1996) — St-Isidore, ON; Mont-Tremblant Ski Club; WC DH rank: 39
- Bib 32 — 🇨🇦 Cassidy Gray (2000) — Panorama, BC; Panorama Ski Club; no World Cup downhill points
Click images to enlarge
Sunday’s downhill takes place on February 8th and begins at 5:30 a.m. ET / 2:30 a.m. PT. Fans in Great Britain can watch the race at 10:30
How to Watch
- 🇺🇸 United States: Live and replay coverage on PeacockTV / USA Network
- 🇨🇦 Canada: Live stream on CBC Sports
- 🇬🇧 Great Britain: Live coverage on Discovery+, starting at 10:30 a.m. UK time
Daily Program for Women’s Olympic Downhill
Click on the image to download
Women’s Downhill Start List
About the Author: Peter Lange
