• Sofia Goggia achieved a stellar victory in the World Cup downhill at Cortina d'Ampezzo.
• Despite a celebrated return, Lindsey Vonn placed 20th in her first race back at this location.
• Goggia's victory marked her fourth win in Cortina, further solidifying her status as a dominant force in women's skiing.
• The race served as preparation for the alpine skiing events at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics.
• Goggia is now just nine points behind the overall downhill leader, Federica Brignone.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — In an electrifying performance, Sofia Goggia once again showcased her skiing prowess during Saturday’s World Cup downhill on the Olympia delle Tofane course, which will be the stage for the women’s alpine events at the upcoming 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. Goggia clocked a remarkable time of one minute and 33.95 seconds, securing her fourth downhill victory in Cortina and positioning herself just nine points behind overall leader Federica Brignone.

Goggia finished ahead of Norwegian Kajsa Vickhoff Lie by 0.42 seconds, with Brignone trailing just 0.55 seconds behind to claim third place. Goggia expressed her joy after the race, stating, “There’s nothing better for us Italians than winning here at Cortina," highlighting the significance of this event for her and her fellow competitors.

On the other hand, Lindsey Vonn, making a highly anticipated return to competition at the age of 40 with a titanium knee following her retirement, struggled to find her rhythm and ended the race in 20th position, 1.68 seconds behind Goggia. Vonn, who has a storied history at Cortina with 12 wins, had shown promise in prior races, including a fourth-place finish in a super-G event in St. Anton last weekend.

This weekend’s results leave Goggia optimistic for the upcoming super-G scheduled for Sunday, particularly following her triumphant comeback from last year’s severe injuries. As for Vonn, she has indicated plans to retire again after the next Winter Games, underlining the emotional weight attached to this comeback journey (AP News) and (The Guardian).