The skiing legend Confident of Being 'in prime form' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Vonn underwent a titanium prosthesis installed in her right knee throughout her hiatus from alpine racing.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn asserts she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, following securing a podium spot for the fourth time in her last five World Cup events.
The veteran athlete, who last week set a record by becoming the oldest 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 top-three result.
Strong Return in Val d'Isere
Returning to the iconic venue for the first occasion in almost a decade, Vonn finished the course in a time of 1:20.60. She was 0.36 seconds behind victor Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson taking second place.
"I was slightly lacking enough direction on the initial jump," Vonn said. "After that, I performed strongly. I'm satisfied with my skiing today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was not aggressive enough."
This result was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere during the event, having also finished third in the downhill on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Injury
Vonn stepped away from competition in February 2019 as a result of persistent injuries. However, she staged a competitive comeback in December 2024 following a partial knee replacement.
With 47 days remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are set to run from February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's form are highly promising.
She boasts one gold and two bronze medals in her collection and is strongly positioned to compete for the United States at the 2026 Games.
"When we get to Cortina, I will be in a good place," Vonn affirmed.
Chasing More Titles
Alongside her Games aspirations, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four overall crystal globes she has secured over a career spanning 20 years.
She presently enjoys a 69-point lead at the summit of the overall downhill standings and is ranked fifth in the super-G World Cup table.
This season's World Cup campaign features a total of nine races scheduled before the season finals in Kvitfjell, Norway on 21 March 2026.
