The skiing legend Confident of Being 'in prime form' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
The veteran skier had a surgical implant placed in her right knee throughout her time away from the sport.
Legendary skier Lindsey Vonn asserts she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, after claiming a place on the rostrum for the fourth instance in five World Cup competitions.
The 41-year-old, who recently made history by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, finished third in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This marked her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup top-three result.
Strong Return in Val d'Isere
Competing at 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 just over a third of a second behind winner Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson taking second place.
"I didn't quite have the right line on the initial jump," Vonn said. "Subsequently, I skied well. I'm pleased 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 over the weekend, having also claimed bronze in the downhill race on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Injury
Vonn ended her career in early 2019 because of persistent injuries. However, she returned to racing in December 2024 after a partial knee replacement.
With 47 days remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are set to run from February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's form are highly promising.
She boasts 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 fully ready," Vonn affirmed.
Chasing More Titles
In addition to her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four overall crystal globes she has won over a career spanning 20 years.
She currently holds 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 March 21st, 2026.
