The American champion Assured of Being 'in a good place' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn had a surgical implant installed in her right knee throughout her hiatus from competitive skiing.
Legendary skier Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "in an excellent position" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, on the back of securing a place on the rostrum for the fourth time in five World Cup events.
The 41-year-old, who recently made history by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, finished third in the super-G in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This represented her 142nd career World Cup top-three result.
Impressive Performance in the French Alps
Competing at the French Alps resort for the first occasion in almost a decade, 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 securing the runner-up spot.
"I was slightly lacking enough direction on the first jump," Vonn said. "Subsequently, I skied well. I'm satisfied with my skiing today, unlike 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 taken third in the downhill on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Retirement
Vonn officially retired in February 2019 because of ongoing knee problems. However, she returned to racing in December 2024 after a partial knee replacement.
With less than two months remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are set to run from February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are highly promising.
She has an Olympic gold and two Olympic bronze medals from previous Games and is firmly on track to represent the United States at the 2026 Games.
"When we get to Cortina, 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 World Cup titles she has secured over a professional journey spanning 20 years.
She currently holds a 69-point lead at the summit of the downhill World Cup rankings and is ranked fifth in the super-G World Cup table.
This season's World Cup circuit features a nine more events taking place before the season finals in Kvitfjell, Norway on 21 March 2026.