Lindsey Vonn finishes sixth in World Cup downhill return in Austria

Lindsey Vonn finished in sixth place Saturday in her first World Cup downhill race since 2019 as she continues her return to racing at age 40.

Vonn, skiing on a familiar mountain in St. Anton, Austria, finished 58 hundredths of a second behind Federica Brignone of Italy. Vonn accomplished the feat despite starting 32nd, a disadvantage because course conditions worsen as the competition continues.

"It was fun," Vonn said. "I love being back in the start and I know this hill really well so I knew the challenges that would come today and was ready to execute."

She led a contingent of three American women to place in the top 15, joining Lauren Macuga (ninth) and Breezy Johnson (11th).

Vonn won the gold medal in the downhill at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010, and 43 of her 82 World Cup wins came in the discipline. Her most recent win was in March 2019.

She underwent partial knee-replacement surgery on her left knee in April, with titanium pieces inserted. Saturday's race was the second of her comeback; she finished 14th in the super-G on Dec. 21.

Vonn will race in the super-G in St. Anton on Sunday, then move on to Cortina in Italy next weekend.

She has stated her goal is to compete in the Milan Cortina Games in 2026, which would be her fifth Olympics. She has three Olympic medals in all.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lindsey Vonn finishes sixth in World Cup downhill return