CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Perusing the start list for the women’s alpine skiing World Cup, most of the numbers look the same.
The document states the competitors’ names, nationality, bib number and year of birth. Some 42 of the 54 competitors were born in the 1990s, while 11 were born in the 2000s.
And then there’s one woman who doesn’t quite fit the trend, her year sticks out a mile. It’s 1984, and it’s Lindsey Vonn.
“This is history in the making,” the announcer boisterously proclaims as Vonn prepares to start her run down the white, gleaming slopes of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
“Lindsey, Lindsey!” the crowd, one of the largest the event has ever hosted, chants. We may be deep in the Italian Dolomites but Vonn’s name and popularity go far across the globe. Only local favourite and Olympic gold medallist Sofia Goggia can command a rowdier din.
There is a huge ovation as Vonn crosses the line in 20th in a downhill race (she was heading for the top five before a later error curtailed her progress) here on this Saturday in mid-January. She gives a double wave to the crowd, some of whom are proudly waving U.S. flags. When she leaves the course, there is a scrum of frantic people to walk through; she stops to sign their skis and their helmets, they yell her…
