Lindsey Vonn Confident of Being 'in prime form' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
The veteran skier had a artificial joint fitted to her right knee throughout her hiatus from competitive skiing.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, after securing a place on the rostrum for the fourth time in five World Cup competitions.
The 41-year-old, who achieved a milestone by becoming the most senior racer to win a downhill World Cup winner, came in third place in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This was her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup top-three result.
Strong Return in Val d'Isere
Racing in 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 victor Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson taking second place.
"I didn't quite have enough direction on the first jump," Vonn said. "Subsequently, I performed strongly. I'm satisfied with my run today, unlike 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 claimed bronze in the downhill race on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Injury
Vonn ended her career in early 2019 because of ongoing knee problems. However, she staged a competitive comeback in late 2024 following a major knee surgery.
With 47 days 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 boasts one gold and two Olympic bronze medals in her collection and is firmly on track 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 Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four World Cup titles she has won over a career spanning 20 years.
She presently enjoys a 69-point lead at the top of the downhill World Cup rankings and is sitting in fifth place in the super-G World Cup table.
This current World Cup campaign features a total of nine races taking place before the season finals in Norway on 21 March 2026.
