The American champion Confident of Being 'in a good place' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Vonn had a titanium prosthesis fitted to her right knee throughout her hiatus from alpine racing.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "perfectly prepared" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, following claiming a podium spot for the fourth instance in her last five World Cup events.
The 41-year-old, who achieved a milestone by becoming the most senior racer to win a downhill World Cup winner, finished third in the super-G in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This was her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup podium finish.
Impressive Performance in the French Alps
Racing in the iconic venue for the first occasion in almost a decade, Vonn finished the course in a time of one minute 20.60 seconds. She was 0.36 seconds behind winner Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson taking second place.
"I didn't quite have enough direction on the initial jump," Vonn said. "After that, I performed strongly. I'm pleased with my skiing today, in contrast to 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 on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Retirement
Vonn officially retired in early 2019 as a result of ongoing knee problems. However, she staged a competitive comeback in December 2024 following a partial knee replacement.
With less than two months remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are scheduled for February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's form are timely.
She boasts an Olympic gold and two bronze medals in her collection and is strongly positioned to represent the United States at the 2026 Games.
"In Cortina, I will be fully ready," the athlete confirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
Alongside her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four overall crystal globes she has won over a professional journey spanning 20 years.
She presently enjoys a substantial lead at the summit of the downhill World Cup rankings and is ranked fifth in the overall super-G standings.
This current World Cup campaign includes a total of nine races taking place before the season finals in Norway on March 21st, 2026.
