Lindsey Vonn kicks off her return by placing 24th in the downhill event.

COPPER MOUNTAIN, Colo. —  For a set of lesser downhill competitions, this featured an impressive array of Olympic medalists and World Cup champions in skiing.

The spotlight shone on Lindsey Vonn, the 40-year-old who took another step forward on her road to recovery Saturday, marking her first competitive outings in almost six years.

Vonn didn’t clock the fastest times and ended up mid-pack on a chilly yet sunny day at Copper Mountain. However, the focus wasn’t on rankings or timings; it was more about reacquainting herself with speed and securing the necessary points to participate in the World Cup this season. Vonn achieved both goals, finishing 24th in the first downhill and 27th in the second.

She shared on social media after the FIS competitions that she gathered enough points to qualify for World Cup races. The timing couldn’t have been better — the upcoming event for the women’s tour is Beaver Creek, Colo., in a week. Vonn, who previously owned a property in nearby Vail, has not specified any timeline for her World Cup return.

“Today was a great start and I had a blast being at the starting line with my teammates again!” Vonn stated on X. “While some may speculate and suggest I’m not in peak condition due to my results, I disagree. This was practice for me. I’m still testing gear and regaining my rhythm.”

Her rivals — a star-studded group of elite ski racers — commended her efforts.

“I’m not expecting her to come back and dominate — just that she returns and enjoys herself,” said Federica Brignone of Italy, a former overall World Cup champion and three-time Olympic medalist. “She’s having a good time, doing what she loves. That’s the best thing for her.”

In the first competition on a frigid morning, Vonn trailed the winning time of 1 minute 5.79 seconds by 1.44 seconds, set by Austria’s Mirjam Puchner.

Later in her second race through the course, Vonn was 1.53 seconds off the pace set by Cornelia Huetter of Austria, who clocked in at 1:05.99. Huetter is the reigning World Cup downhill champion for the season.

“It’s really nice to race against her again and wonderful to have her back,” Huetter remarked. “For sure, it draws significant attention to the skiing World Cup. It’s beneficial for all athletes because everyone is watching.”

Competing alongside them were Nadia Delago of Italy, who secured a bronze medal in downhill at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and Puchner, who earned silver in super-G in Beijing. Marta Bassino of Italy, the 2023 world championships super-G champion, and two-time Olympic victor Michelle Gisin of Switzerland were also in the mix.

“For me, it was primarily training, but it was exciting to experience a World Cup-level race right here,” Gisin commented. “It was a wild race.”

Vonn continues to be a beloved figure, taking time after every run to sign autographs for young fans and pose for pictures.

When she exited the sport, Vonn held a record of 82 World Cup victories, the highest for women, and just shy of the overall record of 86 held by Swedish legend Ingemar Stenmark.

The women’s record previously held by Vonn was eclipsed in January 2023 by Mikaela Shiffrin, who now boasts 99 victories — more than any Alpine ski racer in the sport’s history. Shiffrin is currently out of action following a crash during a giant slalom event in Vermont last weekend.

Vonn’s last significant race occurred in February 2019, where she placed third in a downhill event at the world championships in Sweden. The three-time Olympic medalist departed the circuit while still performing at a high level. However, numerous injuries, including broken bones, concussions, and torn ligaments, ultimately led to her retirement.

After undergoing a partial knee replacement last April, she felt fit enough to give racing another go.

“It’s remarkable to witness the passion that Lindsey continues to have,” Gisin expressed.

Also competing on Saturday was 45-year-old Sarah Schleper, who initially competed for the U.S. but now represents Mexico. Schleper followed Vonn on the course, and they shared a moment together as two 40-something racers still in the game.

“I told her, ‘Give me some tips, Lindsey,’” Schleper recalled. “She replied, ‘Oh, it’s all about the highway tuck, the whole way down.’ Then she added, ‘Just like the good old days.’”