Lindsey Vonn makes her feelings known on compatriot Paula Moltzan bagging maiden giant slalom podium at World Cup in Italy

Lindsey Vonn commended fellow US skier Paula Moltzan for clinching her first Giant Slalom podium in Kronpltaz, Italy. Vonn recently returned from retirement to give her skiing career another go, starting with the 2024/25 World Cup season.

Vonn, the alpine skier who made history by surpassing the legendary Ingemar Stenmark with her 20th World Cup crystal globe title win in 2016, cited injuries and ended her career in 2019. In January 2024, she underwent a partial knee surgery to address previous injuries, and by the end of the year, she was out of retirement and competing at the 2024/25 World Cup circuit.

Vonn kicked off the season with the St. Moritz Super-G, followed by a sixth finish in her first downhill race in years. The 40-year-old then suffered a crash while training downhill in Cortina. Unscathed, she competed in the downhill event but only managed a 20th place finish. This was followed by a crash during the Super- G race.

On January 21, 2025, she shifted her attention to the women's giant slalom in Kronplatz, Italy. She did not compete in the event but congratulated fellow US skier Paula Moltzan on clinching her first GS podium.

"Congrats @paulamoltzan !! First GS podium. Go Minnesota !!" she wrote in her Instagram story.

Lindsey Vonn lauds Paula Moltzan; Instagram - @lindseyvonn

Moltzan's monumental win made her the first woman in her 30s to win a World Cup GS podium, following Lindsey Vonn's achievement in 2015.

Alice Robinson ascended to the top of the podium while Swiss skier Lara Gut-Behrami, the reigning overall champion, finished second.

Lindsey Vonn's crash in Cortina ended her dreams of a glorious finish to her 400th World Cup race.

Lindsey Vonn hinted at competing till the Winter Olympics in Cortina in 2026

In Picture: Vonn smiling at the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup - Women's Super G - (Source: Getty)

Not a stranger to injuries and falls, Lindsey Vonn suffered two back-to-back crashes but fortunately escaped an injury. In an interview after the race, she shed light on the setback, saying:

"I got a little bit behind the course and tried to pull it off. My skis kind of clicked together, and I lost my balance."

Dropping a hint regarding a comeback in the 2026 Cortina Olympics, the 82-time World Cup winner said:

"I need more training, I need more time. And I think it's actually kind of a good thing that I didn't do well this weekend, because it leaves me really hungry for more and also hopefully for next year." (via ESPN)

Vonn added an Olympic gold to her resume at the 2010 Olympic Games, the first for an American woman. She has also won two Olympic bronze medals.