The skiing legend Optimistic of Being 'in prime form' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn underwent a surgical implant fitted to her right knee during her hiatus from the sport.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn states she will be "in an excellent position" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, following claiming a top-three finish for the fourth instance in her last five World Cup races.
The 41-year-old, who recently made history by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, finished third in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This represented her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup podium finish.
Impressive Performance in Val d'Isere
Returning to the iconic venue for the first occasion in almost a decade, Vonn crossed the line in a time of one minute 20.60 seconds. She was 0.36 seconds behind victor Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson securing second place.
"I was slightly lacking enough direction on the first jump," the skier commented. "After that, I skied well. I'm happy with my skiing today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was overly cautious."
This performance was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere over the weekend, having also taken third in the downhill on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Retirement
Vonn ended her career in early 2019 due to persistent injuries. However, she staged a competitive comeback in late 2024 after a partial knee replacement.
With less than two months remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are scheduled for February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are highly promising.
She boasts an Olympic gold and two Olympic bronze medals from previous Games and is firmly on track to compete for the United States at the next Olympics.
"At the Olympics, I will be in a good place," the athlete confirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
Alongside her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four overall crystal globes she has accumulated over a career spanning 20 years.
She currently holds a 69-point lead at the top of the overall downhill standings and is ranked fifth in the super-G World Cup table.
This current World Cup circuit features a nine more events taking place before the circuit finale in Norway on 21 March 2026.
