The skiing legend Assured of Being 'in a good place' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn had a titanium prosthesis placed in her right knee throughout her break from alpine racing.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn states she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, on the back of earning a top-three finish for the fourth time in her last five World Cup competitions.
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 marked her 142nd career World Cup top-three result.
Strong Return in the French Alps
Competing at the iconic venue for the first occasion in eight years, Vonn crossed the line 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 didn't quite have enough direction on the first jump," Vonn said. "After that, I performed strongly. I'm satisfied with my performance today, unlike 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 finished third in the downhill on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Retirement
Vonn officially retired in February 2019 because of persistent injuries. However, she staged a competitive comeback in late 2024 after a major knee surgery.
With less than two months remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are scheduled for February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are highly promising.
She boasts one gold and two Olympic bronze medals in her collection and is firmly on track to compete for the United States at the next Olympics.
"When we get to Cortina, I will be in a good place," Vonn affirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
In addition to her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also hoping to add to 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 sitting in fifth place in the overall super-G standings.
This season's World Cup circuit includes a nine more events taking place before the circuit finale in Kvitfjell, Norway on 21 March 2026.
