Parkite speedskier Lindsey Vonn may be 40 years old. She may have had a knee replacement less than a year ago, but Sunday she returned to the top of the sport. Ranked 27th in the world amidst her comeback attempt, Vonn had already proven she belonged back in the sport. But 27th wasn’t good enough for the legend. How could it be, with 82 World Cup victories? Vonn hovered outside the top 10 in races for most of the season. In her second race back in January she finished fourth in a super-G. Sunday, Vonn returned to the podium on one of the sport’s largest stages, finishing second in the Sun Valley World Cup Finals super-G. When Vonn crossed the Sun Valley finish line, knowing what she accomplished, she erupted toward the crowd into a series of “Let’s go’s.” Only Vonn would know the full meaning of the accomplishment, after all the physical and mental tolls her injuries took on her. She made history as the oldest woman to podium a world cup alpine race. “I was looking for that the entire season,” said an elated Vonn. “I put all the pieces together.”Vonn believes this is only the beginning of her resurgence. She wants to ski through next year’s Olympics, then fall back into retirement. Vonn continues to serve as the role model and now a top competitor for the U.S. team and the field. Her teammate, Lauren Macuga, took the reins this year as the U.S.’s top speedskier, sharing the spotlight with her idol. Lindsey Vonn is overcome by emotions after becoming the oldest woman to podium a world cup alpine event. Credit: David Jackson/Park Record“I know I can even do better than that,” Vonn added in a post-race interview with NBC Sports. “It’s been a rough season of people saying that I can’t.”Vonn derives fuel from her doubters and detractors — “too old, too slow.” How about experienced and finding her way back? Vonn’s U.S. teammates were overjoyed for her. Everyone popped some champaign and smiled. Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami, the world’s best super-G skier, won Sunday’s title, crossing the finish line over a second quicker than Vonn. Austria’s Lukas Feurstein won on the men’s side in an upset over Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt. Saturday’s downhill races were cancelled in Sun Valley due to high-speed winds. Also Sunday, Macuga suffered her first world cup super-G DNF.“I was all pumped up, ready to go all out,” said Macuga. “It’s nice to know I was trying my best. You’ve got to have your first DNF at some point.”Lauren Macuga forgets some of Sunday’s disappointment — DNF-ing the super-G — and celebrates her breakout season with her family. Credit: David Jackson/Park RecordMacuga’s family joined her in the finishing area after the disappointing finish, helping to ease any tension by cracking some jokes. The 22 year old finished her breakout season ranked fourth in the year-end downhill standings and sixth in super-G.Macuga was set to race Tuesday’s giant slalom, having earned enough cup points as a speedskier. It’s her first giant slalom at this level. Both Vonn and Macuga will turn their attention to next season and the Games. For Vonn, a return to form makes a second gold medal feel within reach, and for Macuga, a rise to the sport’s peak means she’s a threat in any discipline she enters.The post Lindsey Vonn overjoyed by World Cup Finals podium appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less