The American champion Optimistic of Being 'in a good place' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
The veteran skier had a titanium prosthesis placed in her right knee throughout her break from competitive skiing.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "in a good place" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, following securing a top-three finish for the fourth instance in her last five World Cup competitions.
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 podium finish.
Impressive Performance in Val d'Isere
Racing in the iconic venue for the first time in eight years, Vonn finished the course in a time of 1:20.60. She was just over a third of a second behind winner Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson taking the runner-up spot.
"I didn't quite have the right line on the first jump," Vonn said. "Subsequently, I performed strongly. I'm happy with my skiing today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was overly cautious."
This result was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere over the weekend, having also claimed bronze in the downhill race on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Retirement
Vonn ended her career in February 2019 due to ongoing knee problems. However, she made a stunning return 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 performances are highly promising.
She boasts an Olympic gold and two Olympic bronze medals in her collection and is firmly on track to compete for the United States at the next Olympics.
"At the Olympics, I will be where I need to be," Vonn affirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
Alongside her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four overall crystal globes she has won over a professional journey spanning two decades.
She currently holds a 69-point lead at the summit of the overall downhill standings and is sitting in fifth place in the overall super-G standings.
This season's World Cup circuit includes a total of nine races scheduled before the circuit finale in Kvitfjell, Norway on March 21st, 2026.
