The American champion Assured of Being 'in a good place' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
Vonn underwent a artificial joint fitted to her right knee during her time away from the sport.
Legendary skier Lindsey Vonn states she will be "in an excellent position" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, after earning a top-three finish for the fourth instance in five World Cup races.
The 41-year-old, who achieved a milestone by becoming the most senior racer to win a downhill World Cup winner, finished third in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This represented her 142nd career World Cup podium finish.
Impressive Performance in the French Alps
Competing at the iconic venue for the first time in almost a decade, Vonn finished the course in a time of one minute 20.60 seconds. She was 0.36 seconds behind winner Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson securing second place.
"I didn't quite have enough direction on the initial jump," the skier commented. "Subsequently, I skied well. I'm pleased with my performance today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was overly cautious."
This result was her second podium at Val d'Isere during the event, having also claimed bronze in the downhill on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Injury
Vonn officially retired in early 2019 due to ongoing knee problems. However, she made a stunning return in late 2024 after a major knee surgery.
With less than two months 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 one gold and two bronze medals in her collection and is strongly positioned to compete for the United States at the 2026 Games.
"When we get to Cortina, I will be in a good place," the athlete confirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
In addition to her Games aspirations, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four overall crystal globes she has secured over a professional journey spanning two decades.
She currently holds a substantial lead at the top of the downhill World Cup rankings and is ranked fifth in the super-G World Cup table.
This current World Cup campaign features a nine more events taking place before the season finals in Norway on 21 March 2026.
