Lindsey vonn makes the story with a second place in the race of the World Cup

Sun Valley, Idaho – The return of Lindsey Vonn to the podium – six years since her distance from the ski race, 11 months since her partial replacement of the knee, four months since the announcement of his return – hit her hard in the arrival area.

Strugging to catch his breath, but always manage energy to raise his ski posts to celebrate, tears have dropped. They were of joy and relief that she could even return to the World Cup circuit. They were for the satisfaction of proving that all of his skeptics are mistaken. They were, she explained, for having shown “this adventure on which I settled is worth something”.

Vonn concluded his return season at the age of 40 with a second place in a Super-G World Cup Super-G race on Sunday which was won by Lara Gut-Behrami, the Swiss star. Vonn has become the oldest alpine ski runner to get on the podium of a six -year -old World Cup race.

“It was (explained) hard,” said Vonn. “It’s not easy what I do. It was really good to say that I did it. That I can always do it. “

Vonn has found its vintage shape while flying along the Challenger torsion and abrupt course during the World Cup finals. The winner of the World Cup of 82 times – with the triple Olympic medalist – looked at the dashboard and dipped in the roar of the large crowd.

It is a moment that she will cherish.

“Age is only a number,” said Vonn. “If you feel well and you are still mentally conducted and you work hard, you can do everything you turn.”

She was also motivated by skeptics – those who criticized her to make a return.

“Sometimes negative voices, they lead me more than positive,” said Vonn. “I use all this as fuel. It propelled me through difficult times this year. I knew I could do it.

“When I crossed the finish line, there is a lot of relief to be where I know that I can be and to silence so many negative voices that have just surrounded me, it looks like, all season. It was just a nice exclamation point to put in the season.”

It was the first point of podium of the Vonn World Cup since March 15, 2018, when it finished third in a super-G in Sweden. A year later, she won bronze downhill at the world championships before calling her a career largely because of her knee.

Vonn received a titanium knee last April and felt so well that she announced her plans in November for a return.

“I continue to prove that anything is possible,” said Vonn. “I have been overturned so many times in my life personally, physically, mentally, beaten and I always get back. It is not always easy.

“It is actually (explained) a hard work. But that is what it takes, by putting one foot in front of the other and crossing the difficult days. When you continue to set foot in front of the other, it brings you to a place like today.”

Before the race, his father, Alan Kildow, took him by the arm and just said: “fearless”.

She listened.

“Of all the races, of all the courses on which she has taken her, he really suits her,” said Kildow about the redrawn course of Sun Valley. “A very clean and technically healthy race could go very far. She skied it as she had to.”

It was the 138th podium of the Vonn World Cup World Cup during its 408th departure from the World Cup. It is tied at an equal tie by an Alpine runner, a brand held by Renate Goetschl from Austria.

A skier not surprised by the success of Vonn is the 34 -year -old Italian runner Federica Brignone.

“She is Lindsey Vonn,” said Brignone, who officially won the discipline of descent Saturday after the cancellation of the race, with the overall crown. “It is not someone who comes back from another injury. She has qualities and she is an incredible champion. Today, she has put all the pieces (together) and has made an incredible race.”

The interface -Behrami finished in once by 1 minute and 12.35 seconds – Vonn slope of 1.29 seconds – to win the Globe Crystal Super -G of the season by exceeding Brignone. Gut-Behrami dragged by five points before Sunday race. Gut-Behrami has found a lot of speed and took calculated risks to slide throughout the route. Brignone finished third, 1.33 seconds behind the Gut-Behrami.

The latest super-G ranking of a season ended up being intestinal, Brignone and Sofia Goggia from Italy.

“Two days ago, I finally found happiness on skis,” said the intestine. “It’s easier to ski quickly when you appreciate what you do. I was looking for the whole season. “

The next race in the World Cup final is Tuesday with a giant female slalom.

For Vonn, the season is over. His plan is to rest for a few weeks, then go to Europe for more test of his ski equipment.

“I literally gave every last ounce of energy that I had in the last race of the season,” said Vonn. “I could barely breathe (on arrival), maybe because I was crying.

“It was a big race.”