The skiing legend Assured of Being 'in a good place' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Vonn underwent a titanium prosthesis fitted to her right knee during her break from competitive skiing.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn states she will be "perfectly prepared" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, following claiming a place on the rostrum for the fourth instance in five World Cup competitions.
The veteran athlete, who achieved a milestone by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, finished third in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This was her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup top-three result.
Impressive Performance in the French Alps
Returning to 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 winner Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson taking second place.
"I was slightly lacking the right line on the initial jump," Vonn remarked. "From that point on, I performed strongly. I'm pleased with my skiing today, unlike in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was too conservative."
This result was her second podium at Val d'Isere over the weekend, having also finished third in the downhill on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Injury
Vonn stepped away from competition in early 2019 due to ongoing knee problems. However, she staged a competitive comeback in December 2024 after a major knee surgery.
With 47 days remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are set to run from February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are timely.
She boasts one gold and two bronze medals from previous Games and is strongly positioned to represent the United States at the 2026 Games.
"When we get to Cortina, I will be where I need to be," the athlete confirmed.
Chasing More Titles
In addition to her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four World Cup titles she has won over a professional journey spanning two decades.
She presently enjoys a 69-point lead at the summit of the downhill World Cup rankings and is ranked fifth in the overall super-G standings.
This season's World Cup campaign includes a nine more events scheduled before the season finals in Kvitfjell, Norway on 21 March 2026.
