The American champion Optimistic of Being 'in a good place' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
The veteran skier had a artificial joint placed in her right knee throughout her break from competitive skiing.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn asserts she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, after earning a top-three finish for the fourth instance in her last five World Cup events.
The 41-year-old, who achieved a milestone by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, took the bronze position in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This represented her 142nd career World Cup podium finish.
Impressive Performance in Val d'Isere
Returning to the iconic venue for the first occasion in eight years, Vonn crossed the line 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 happy with my performance today, unlike in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was overly cautious."
This performance was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere during the event, having also claimed bronze in the downhill on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Retirement
Vonn ended her career in February 2019 due to ongoing knee problems. However, she returned to racing in December 2024 after a major knee surgery.
With just over six weeks remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are set to run from February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are highly promising.
She already possesses one gold and two Olympic bronze medals in her collection and is strongly positioned to represent the United States at the next Olympics.
"In Cortina, I will be where I need to be," the athlete confirmed.
Chasing More Titles
In addition to her Games aspirations, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four World Cup titles she has secured over a professional journey spanning 20 years.
She currently holds a substantial lead at the top of the downhill World Cup rankings and is ranked fifth in the overall super-G standings.
This season's World Cup campaign features a total of nine races taking place before the season finals in Norway on 21 March 2026.
