The skiing legend Assured of Being 'in a good place' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn had a artificial joint fitted to her right knee throughout her hiatus from alpine racing.
Legendary skier Lindsey Vonn asserts she will be "in an excellent position" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, on the back of securing a podium spot for the fourth instance in five World Cup races.
The 41-year-old, who last week set a record by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, took the bronze position in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This marked her 142nd career World Cup top-three result.
Strong Return in Val d'Isere
Racing in the iconic venue for the first time in eight years, Vonn finished the course in a time of one minute 20.60 seconds. She was just over a third of a second behind victor 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 skied well. I'm satisfied with my performance today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was overly cautious."
This result 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 as a result of persistent injuries. However, she staged a competitive comeback in late 2024 after a partial knee replacement.
With 47 days remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are scheduled for February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are highly promising.
She boasts an Olympic gold and two bronze medals in her collection and is strongly positioned to compete for the United States at the next Olympics.
"At the Olympics, I will be fully ready," the athlete confirmed.
Chasing More Titles
In addition to her Games aspirations, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four overall crystal globes she has accumulated 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 super-G World Cup table.
This current World Cup circuit features a total of nine races taking place before the circuit finale in Kvitfjell, Norway on March 21st, 2026.
