Lindsey Vonn’s coach, Aksel Lund Svindal, has spoken openly about how he felt watching the American ski legend claim her first World Cup win of the 2025–26 season. Vonn brought Svindal on board in August 2025 as part of her preparation for the upcoming Olympic campaign.
The 41-year-old delivered a stunning performance on December 12 in the women’s downhill at St. Moritz, Switzerland, clocking a winning time of 1:29.63. She edged out Austria’s Magdalena Egger by just over a second, while Australia’s Mirjam Puchner rounded out the podium in third place.
The victory was especially meaningful, marking Vonn’s first World Cup triumph in seven years and her first since returning to competition after a six-year break. Following the emotional win, both Vonn and Svindal spoke with TNT Sports about the moment.
Svindal admitted he was more nervous than he expected as Vonn prepared to start, explaining that he focused on keeping his advice simple and confident. He said they had a solid plan and knew the race would be close, but Vonn made sure it wasn’t by skiing with authority and control. He praised her for executing perfectly under pressure.
The Norwegian coaching great also revealed that his nerves were actually a positive sign. To him, it showed how much the moment mattered. He added that this was the first time he had truly seen Vonn fully locked into “race mode” since her return, highlighting her intensity and competitive edge. Svindal described her as a true racer and admitted he was deeply impressed by her focus and drive.
As the U.S. national anthem played during the medal ceremony, Vonn couldn’t hold back her emotions, breaking down in tears while holding the trophy.
Shortly after the race, Svindal shared a celebratory video on Instagram showing the team rejoicing and praised Vonn’s skiing in a brief but heartfelt message. Vonn later reposted the clip on her own Instagram, thanking her coach with a warm note of appreciation.
Vonn is set to return to the slopes at St. Moritz for her second downhill race on December 13, looking to build on an already emotional and historic comeback win.
