The skiing legend Assured of Being 'perfectly positioned' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
The veteran skier underwent a artificial joint fitted to her right knee throughout her break from alpine racing.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn asserts she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, after claiming a podium spot for the fourth time in her last five World Cup events.
The veteran athlete, who achieved a milestone by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, came in third place 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
Returning to the iconic venue for the first occasion in almost a decade, Vonn crossed the line 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 the runner-up spot.
"I was slightly lacking enough direction on the initial jump," Vonn remarked. "From that point on, I performed strongly. I'm happy with my skiing today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was not aggressive enough."
This result was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere during the event, having also finished third in the downhill on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Retirement
Vonn officially retired in early 2019 as a result of ongoing knee problems. However, she made a stunning return in December 2024 after a major knee surgery.
With just over six weeks remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are scheduled for February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are timely.
She already possesses an Olympic gold and two Olympic bronze medals from previous Games and is strongly positioned to represent the United States at the 2026 Games.
"When we get to Cortina, I will be where I need to be," the athlete confirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
Alongside her Games aspirations, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four overall crystal globes she has accumulated over a career spanning two decades.
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 season's World Cup circuit includes a nine more events taking place before the season finals in Kvitfjell, Norway on 21 March 2026.
