The American champion Confident of Being 'in prime form' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn had a surgical implant placed in her right knee throughout her break from the sport.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn states she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, on the back of earning a top-three finish for the fourth instance in five World Cup competitions.
The 41-year-old, who last week set a record by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, came in third place in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This was her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup podium finish.
Strong Return in Val d'Isere
Returning to the iconic venue for the first occasion in eight years, Vonn finished the course in a time of 1:20.60. She was 0.36 seconds behind winner Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson securing second place.
"I didn't quite have enough direction on the initial jump," the skier commented. "After that, I skied well. I'm happy with my run 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 Retirement
Vonn ended her career in early 2019 because of ongoing knee problems. However, she made a stunning return in December 2024 following a significant orthopedic procedure.
With just over six weeks 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 compete for the United States at the next Olympics.
"When we get to Cortina, I will be in a good place," the athlete confirmed.
Chasing More Titles
Alongside her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four overall crystal globes she has secured over a career spanning 20 years.
She currently holds a 69-point lead at the summit of the overall downhill standings and is sitting in fifth place in the overall super-G standings.
This season's World Cup campaign features a total of nine races taking place before the season finals in Norway on March 21st, 2026.
