The American champion Confident of Being 'perfectly positioned' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Vonn had a titanium prosthesis installed in her right knee throughout her break from competitive skiing.
Legendary skier Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "in a good place" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, after earning a place on the rostrum for the fourth instance in her last five World Cup events.
The veteran athlete, who achieved a milestone by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, came in third place in the super-G in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This was her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup podium finish.
Strong Return in the French Alps
Returning to the iconic venue for the first time in eight years, 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 the runner-up spot.
"I was slightly lacking enough direction on the initial jump," Vonn remarked. "From that point on, I performed strongly. I'm satisfied with my skiing today, unlike in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was too conservative."
This performance was her second podium at Val d'Isere over the weekend, having also claimed bronze in the downhill race on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Injury
Vonn officially retired in early 2019 because of persistent injuries. However, she returned to racing in December 2024 after a major knee surgery.
With 47 days remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are set to run from February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are highly promising.
She already possesses an Olympic gold and two Olympic bronze medals from previous Games and is strongly positioned to represent the United States at the 2026 Games.
"When we get to Cortina, I will be in a good place," the athlete confirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
Alongside her Games aspirations, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four World Cup titles she has accumulated over a career spanning two decades.
She presently enjoys 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 includes a nine more events scheduled before the season finals in Norway on 21 March 2026.
