Lindsey Vonn Confident of Being 'perfectly positioned' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn had a surgical implant fitted to her right knee throughout her time away from the sport.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn states she will be "in a good place" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, on the back of claiming a place on the rostrum for the fourth instance in her last five World Cup events.
The veteran athlete, who last week set a record by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, took the bronze position in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This marked her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup podium finish.
Strong Return in Val d'Isere
Returning to the French Alps resort for the first occasion 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 victor Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson taking second place.
"I didn't quite have the right line on the first jump," the skier commented. "From that point on, I performed strongly. I'm satisfied with my skiing today, unlike in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was overly cautious."
This result was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere over the weekend, having also finished third in the downhill race on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Retirement
Vonn stepped away from competition in early 2019 because of persistent injuries. However, she made a stunning return in late 2024 after a partial knee replacement.
With less than two months remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are set to run from 6-22 February, Vonn's performances are highly promising.
She already possesses one gold and two bronze medals from previous Games and is firmly on track to compete for the United States at the next Olympics.
"When we get to Cortina, I will be fully ready," the athlete confirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
In addition to her Games aspirations, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four overall crystal globes she has accumulated over a career spanning 20 years.
She currently holds a substantial lead at the top of the overall downhill standings and is ranked fifth in the overall super-G standings.
This season's World Cup campaign includes a nine more events scheduled before the season finals in Kvitfjell, Norway on 21 March 2026.