LINDSEY VONN raced to a stunningly fast win in a World Cup downhill at St Moritz today to earn her first victory in nearly eight years — and the first in her comeback with titanium implants in her right knee after a five-year retirement.

The 41-year-old United States ski great seized the lead by an astonishing 1.16 seconds ahead of Mirjam Puchner of Austria. Even wilder was that Vonn trailed by 0.61 after the first two time checks at the Swiss resort.

Vonn’s lead was later cut to 0.98 — still a massive margin in downhill — when unheralded Magdalena Egger took second place from teammate Puchner.

“It was an amazing day, I couldn’t be happier, pretty emotional,” Vonn told Swiss broadcaster RTS. “I felt good this summer but I wasn’t sure how fast I was. I guess I know now how fast I am.”

Soon after, Vonn shed tears on the podium in the finish area when The Star-Spangled Banner played.

It was a perfect start to her Olympic season to get a first victory since a downhill in March 2018 at Are, Sweden.

Vonn’s superb debut working with new coach Aksel Lund Svindal, a men’s downhill veteran who won the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics title, suggests their stellar partnership is paying off.

Her run today looked routine when she dropped tenths of seconds to Puchner’s time on the top half of the sunbathed Corviglia course, where the finish is at altitude above 2,000 metres (6,500 feet).

Vonn then was faster than anyone through the next speed checks, touching 74 mph, and posted the fastest time splits for the bottom half.

She skied through the finish area and bumped against the inflated safety barrier, lay down in the snow and raised her arms on seeing her time.

The 2010 Olympic champion is targeting another gold medal at the Milan Cortina Winter Games in February. Women’s Alpine skiing is at the storied Cortina d’Ampezzo course in the Dolomites, which Vonn has mastered in her career with 12 World Cup race wins.

“Obviously my goal is Cortina but if this is the way we start I think I’m in a good spot,” said Vonn, who will be favoured for another downhill win today at St Moritz.