The American champion Confident of Being 'perfectly positioned' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn underwent a titanium prosthesis installed in her right knee during her hiatus from alpine racing.
Legendary skier Lindsey Vonn states she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, after securing a place on the rostrum for the fourth instance in five World Cup races.
The veteran athlete, who recently made history by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, came in third place in the super-G in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This represented her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup top-three result.
Impressive Performance in Val d'Isere
Racing in the French Alps resort for the first occasion in eight years, Vonn crossed the line in a time of one minute 20.60 seconds. She was just over a third of a second behind victor Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson securing second place.
"I didn't quite have enough direction on the first jump," Vonn said. "After that, I performed strongly. I'm happy with my skiing today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was not aggressive enough."
This performance was her second podium at Val d'Isere during the event, having also taken third in the downhill race on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Retirement
Vonn officially retired in early 2019 because of ongoing knee problems. However, she made a stunning return in late 2024 following a major knee surgery.
With 47 days remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are set to run from 6-22 February, Vonn's form are timely.
She boasts an Olympic gold and two Olympic bronze medals from previous Games and is strongly positioned to represent the United States at the next Olympics.
"When we get to Cortina, I will be fully ready," Vonn affirmed.
Chasing More Titles
In addition to her Games aspirations, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four World Cup titles she has accumulated over a career spanning two decades.
She currently holds a 69-point lead at the summit of the overall downhill standings and is ranked fifth in the overall super-G standings.
This season's World Cup campaign features a total of nine races scheduled before the season finals in Kvitfjell, Norway on 21 March 2026.
