The American champion Assured of Being 'in prime form' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
The veteran skier had a surgical implant installed in her right knee throughout her break from the sport.
Legendary skier Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "in a good place" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, after earning a podium spot for the fourth time in her last five World Cup competitions.
The 41-year-old, who achieved a milestone by becoming the oldest 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.
Strong Return in Val d'Isere
Competing at the iconic venue for the first time in almost a decade, Vonn finished the course in a time of 1:20.60. She was just over a third of a second behind winner Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson taking the runner-up spot.
"I didn't quite have enough direction on the initial jump," the skier commented. "After that, I skied well. I'm satisfied with my performance today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was not aggressive enough."
This performance was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere during the event, having also claimed bronze in the downhill on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Retirement
Vonn stepped away from competition in February 2019 because of ongoing knee problems. However, she returned to racing in December 2024 following a partial knee replacement.
With just over six weeks remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are set to run from February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's form are highly promising.
She already possesses an Olympic gold and two bronze medals from previous Games and is strongly positioned to represent the United States at the 2026 Games.
"In Cortina, I will be in a good place," Vonn affirmed.
Chasing More Titles
Alongside her Games aspirations, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four overall crystal globes she has accumulated over a career spanning 20 years.
She presently enjoys a substantial lead at the summit of the overall downhill standings and is ranked fifth in the super-G World Cup table.
This current World Cup circuit includes a total of nine races scheduled before the season finals in Norway on 21 March 2026.
