The American champion Assured of Being 'in a good place' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn underwent a artificial joint installed in her right knee during her hiatus from the sport.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "in an excellent position" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, following claiming a top-three finish for the fourth instance in five World Cup events.
The veteran athlete, who last week set a record 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 142nd career World Cup podium finish.
Impressive Performance in the French Alps
Returning to the French Alps resort for the first time in eight years, 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 didn't quite have the right line on the first jump," Vonn said. "From that point on, I skied well. I'm happy with my performance today, unlike in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was overly cautious."
This result was her second podium at Val d'Isere over the weekend, having also claimed bronze in the downhill race on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Retirement
Vonn officially retired in February 2019 due to ongoing knee problems. However, she staged a competitive comeback in late 2024 after a significant orthopedic procedure.
With 47 days remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are set to run from 6-22 February, Vonn's form are highly promising.
She already possesses one gold and two Olympic bronze medals from previous Games and is firmly on track to represent the United States at the next Olympics.
"At the Olympics, I will be where I need to be," the athlete confirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
Alongside her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four World Cup titles she has accumulated over a career spanning 20 years.
She presently enjoys a substantial lead at the summit of the downhill World Cup rankings and is ranked fifth in the super-G World Cup table.
This current World Cup campaign includes a nine more events taking place before the season finals in Kvitfjell, Norway on March 21st, 2026.
