Lindsey Vonn Assured of Being 'in a good place' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
The veteran skier underwent a surgical implant fitted to her right knee during her time away from alpine racing.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn asserts she will be "perfectly prepared" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, on the back of claiming a podium spot for the fourth time in five World Cup races.
The 41-year-old, who achieved a milestone by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, came in third place 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
Returning to the iconic venue for the first time in eight years, Vonn crossed the line 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 securing second place.
"I was slightly lacking enough direction on the first jump," the skier commented. "From that point on, I performed strongly. I'm happy with my run today, unlike in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was not aggressive enough."
This performance was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere during the event, having also taken third in the downhill race on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Retirement
Vonn officially retired in early 2019 due to ongoing knee problems. However, she returned to racing in late 2024 following a partial knee replacement.
With less than two months remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are set to run from February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's form are highly promising.
She boasts one gold and two Olympic bronze medals in her collection and is strongly positioned to represent the United States at the next Olympics.
"At the Olympics, I will be in a good place," Vonn affirmed.
Chasing More Titles
In addition to her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four overall crystal globes she has secured over a professional journey spanning two decades.
She presently enjoys a 69-point lead at the summit of the overall downhill standings and is ranked fifth in the super-G World Cup table.
This season's World Cup campaign features a total of nine races taking place before the circuit finale in Norway on 21 March 2026.
