The American champion Assured of Being 'in prime form' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn had a artificial joint placed in her right knee throughout her time away from competitive skiing.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, following claiming a top-three finish for the fourth instance in her last five World Cup races.
The veteran athlete, who achieved a milestone by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, finished third in the super-G in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This represented her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup podium finish.
Strong Return in Val d'Isere
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 victor Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson securing the runner-up spot.
"I was slightly lacking enough direction on the first jump," Vonn remarked. "Subsequently, I performed strongly. I'm pleased with my run today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was too conservative."
This performance was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere over the weekend, having also taken third in the downhill race on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Injury
Vonn officially retired in early 2019 as a result of ongoing knee problems. However, she returned to racing in December 2024 following a major knee surgery.
With just over six weeks remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are set to run from February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are highly promising.
She has an Olympic gold and two bronze medals from previous Games and is firmly on track to represent the United States at the 2026 Games.
"At the Olympics, I will be in a good place," the athlete confirmed.
Chasing More Titles
Alongside her Games aspirations, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four World Cup titles she has accumulated over a career spanning 20 years.
She presently enjoys a 69-point lead at the top of the downhill World Cup rankings and is ranked fifth in the super-G World Cup table.
This season's World Cup campaign includes a nine more events scheduled before the season finals in Norway on 21 March 2026.
