Lindsey Vonn Assured of Being 'in a good place' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Vonn underwent a titanium prosthesis installed in her right knee during her hiatus from the sport.
Legendary skier Lindsey Vonn states she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, on the back of earning a place on the rostrum for the fourth instance in her last five World Cup races.
The 41-year-old, who achieved a milestone by becoming the most senior racer to win a downhill World Cup winner, finished third in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This marked her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup podium finish.
Strong Return in the French Alps
Racing in the French Alps resort for the first occasion in eight years, Vonn finished the course in a time of one minute 20.60 seconds. She was 0.36 seconds behind winner Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson taking the runner-up spot.
"I was slightly lacking enough direction on the first jump," Vonn said. "After that, I performed strongly. I'm satisfied with my performance today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was not aggressive enough."
This result was her second podium at Val d'Isere during the event, having also claimed bronze in the downhill on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Retirement
Vonn stepped away from competition in early 2019 as a result of persistent injuries. However, she returned to racing in December 2024 following a partial knee replacement.
With less than two months remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are set to run from February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's form are timely.
She boasts an Olympic gold and two bronze medals from previous Games and is firmly on track to compete for the United States at the next Olympics.
"In Cortina, I will be fully ready," the athlete confirmed.
Chasing More Titles
Alongside her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four overall crystal globes she has accumulated over a professional journey spanning two decades.
She currently holds a substantial lead at the top of the overall downhill standings and is sitting in fifth place in the super-G World Cup table.
This season's World Cup circuit features a total of nine races scheduled before the circuit finale in Norway on March 21st, 2026.
