The skiing legend Confident of Being 'perfectly positioned' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
Vonn underwent a titanium prosthesis fitted to her right knee throughout her hiatus from competitive skiing.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn asserts she will be "in an excellent position" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, following earning a top-three finish for the fourth instance in five World Cup races.
The 41-year-old, who achieved a milestone by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, finished third in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This was her 142nd career World Cup podium finish.
Impressive Performance in the French Alps
Competing at the iconic venue for the first time in almost a decade, Vonn finished the course in a time of one minute 20.60 seconds. She was just over a third of a second behind winner Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson securing the runner-up spot.
"I didn't quite have enough direction on the first jump," the skier commented. "Subsequently, I skied well. I'm satisfied with my performance today, unlike in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was not aggressive enough."
This performance was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere during the event, having also claimed bronze in the downhill race on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Retirement
Vonn officially retired in February 2019 because of ongoing knee problems. However, she returned to racing in late 2024 following a partial knee replacement.
With less than two months remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are scheduled for 6-22 February, Vonn's form are timely.
She boasts one gold and two bronze medals from previous Games and is firmly on track to represent the United States at the next Olympics.
"At the Olympics, I will be fully ready," the athlete confirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
Alongside her Games aspirations, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four World Cup titles she has accumulated over a professional journey spanning two decades.
She presently enjoys a substantial lead at the summit of the overall downhill standings and is ranked fifth in the super-G World Cup table.
This current World Cup campaign includes a nine more events scheduled before the season finals in Norway on 21 March 2026.
