American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn captured the downhill title at the FIS World Cup event in St. Moritz on December 12, delivering a stunning performance that resonated far beyond the Alpine skiing community. Tennis legend Novak Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, took to social media to express their admiration for the world champion.
The victory marks a significant milestone in Vonn’s remarkable comeback story, following her retirement in 2019 and the medical treatment following it.
Novak Djokovic and Jelena congratulate Lindsey Vonn on Historic Return at St. Moritz
Vonn commanded the Corviglia course at St. Moritz with a masterful performance, stopping the clock at 1 minute and 29.63 seconds to secure the downhill victory with an impressive 0.98-second margin over Austria’s Magdalena Egger. The achievement marked Vonn’s 83rd career World Cup victory, establishing her as the oldest woman in Alpine skiing history to claim a World Cup race title at age 41.
Trailing after the first two time checks, Vonn executed a powerful surge through the second half of the track to claim victory. This was her 44th downhill win, representing a record-extending total in the discipline. After the race, the 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic posted a reel by the official FIS Ski World Cup account on his Instagram story, writing,
“Yesss🏆🙌🎉Congratulations Champ.”
MORE: ‘Most Meaningful Win of My Career’ – Lindsey Vonn Pens Emotional Message After World Cup Triumph
Jelena expressed her admiration for Vonn’s performance in the comments section of the same Instagram reel celebrating the victory. She wrote, ”
In another comment, she praised Vonn for her performance despite her age and wrote, “Whaaaaat in the wooooorllIIld?!!! You are reinventing the sport!!!🙌🙌🙌❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
so excited for you!!!!”
Vonn’s comeback required overcoming significant physical obstacles after her retirement in February 2019 due to chronic right knee pain. She underwent a robotic-assisted partial knee replacement surgery in April 2024, a procedure that specifically targeted cartilage damage on the lateral side of her knee while preserving her intact ACL and medial meniscus.
Working with newly appointed coach Aksel Lund Svindal, Vonn marked her return with a second-place super-G finish at the World Cup finals in Sun Valley, Idaho, on March 23, 2025: her first podium appearance in seven years.
Jelena’s Support in Age-Defying Athletic Performances, Including Husband Novak Djokovic
The enthusiasm from Jelena regarding Vonn’s accomplishment reflects broader admiration within the sports community for athletes who continue breaking age-related barriers. Remarkably, Jelena’s husband, Novak, continues to produce historic age-defying records in professional tennis that parallel Vonn’s skiing achievements.
MORE: Novak Djokovic’s Wife Jelena Melts Hearts As She Shares Sweet Moment Snuggling Her Elderly Rescue Dog
Djokovic, currently 38 years old, concluded the 2025 tennis season ranked No. 4 in the ATP standings, making him the oldest player in tennis history to finish a calendar year in the Top 4 rankings. His achievement surpassed Roger Federer’s previous record of 38 years and 3 months, achieved in 2019.
During the 2025 season, Djokovic reached the semifinals of all four Grand Slam tournaments, becoming the oldest man in the Open Era to accomplish this feat in a single calendar year. He also captured his 100th and 101st tour-level titles during the season, competing at the highest level of professional tennis.
The parallel between Vonn’s skiing comeback and Djokovic’s tennis longevity illustrates how elite athletes can continue competing and winning at the highest levels well into their late 30s and early 40s.
Both athletes have demonstrated that age does not necessarily limit competitive capability when combined with mental determination, inspiring young athletes across multiple sports disciplines.