Lindsey Vonn Assured of Being 'in a good place' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn underwent a artificial joint placed in her right knee throughout her hiatus from alpine racing.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn states she will be "in an excellent position" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, on the back of claiming a place on the rostrum for the fourth instance in her last five World Cup competitions.
The veteran athlete, 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 was her 142nd career World Cup top-three result.
Strong Return in Val d'Isere
Racing in the French Alps resort for the first occasion in eight years, 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 second place.
"I didn't quite have the right line on the first jump," the skier commented. "From that point on, I skied well. I'm satisfied with my skiing today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was too conservative."
This result was her second podium at Val d'Isere during the event, having also claimed bronze in the downhill race on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Retirement
Vonn stepped away from competition in early 2019 as a result of persistent injuries. However, she staged a competitive comeback in December 2024 following a major knee surgery.
With less than two months remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are set to run from February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's form are highly promising.
She has an Olympic gold and two bronze medals from previous Games and is strongly positioned to represent the United States at the next Olympics.
"At the Olympics, I will be where I need to be," the athlete confirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
In addition to her Games aspirations, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four World Cup titles she has won over a professional journey spanning two decades.
She presently enjoys a substantial lead at the summit of the downhill World Cup rankings and is sitting in fifth place in the overall super-G standings.
This season's World Cup campaign features a nine more events scheduled before the season finals in Kvitfjell, Norway on March 21st, 2026.
