Lindsey Vonn Optimistic of Being 'in a good place' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Vonn had a artificial joint placed in her right knee during her hiatus from alpine racing.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn asserts she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, after securing a podium spot for the fourth instance in her last 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, finished third in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This represented her 142nd career World Cup podium finish.
Strong Return in the French Alps
Competing at 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 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 enough direction on the initial jump," the skier commented. "Subsequently, I skied well. I'm happy with my run today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was too conservative."
This result was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere over the weekend, having also taken third in the downhill race on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Injury
Vonn officially retired in February 2019 because of ongoing knee problems. However, she staged a competitive comeback in December 2024 after a partial knee replacement.
With just over six weeks remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are set to run from 6-22 February, Vonn's form are timely.
She boasts an Olympic gold and two Olympic bronze medals in her collection and is strongly positioned to represent the United States at the 2026 Games.
"When we get to Cortina, I will be fully ready," the athlete confirmed.
Chasing More Titles
Alongside her Games aspirations, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four World Cup titles she has won over a career spanning two decades.
She currently holds a 69-point lead at the top of the downhill World Cup rankings and is ranked fifth in the super-G World Cup table.
This current World Cup circuit includes a total of nine races scheduled before the season finals in Norway on March 21st, 2026.
