The skiing legend Confident of Being 'perfectly positioned' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn had a surgical implant installed in her right knee throughout her time away from competitive skiing.
Legendary skier Lindsey Vonn states she will be "in a good place" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, following securing a place on the rostrum for the fourth instance in five World Cup races.
The 41-year-old, who recently made history by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, took the bronze position 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
Racing in the iconic venue for the first occasion in eight years, Vonn finished the course in a time of one minute 20.60 seconds. She was just over a third of a second behind victor Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson securing second place.
"I didn't quite have enough direction on the first jump," Vonn said. "Subsequently, I performed strongly. I'm happy with my performance today, unlike in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was overly cautious."
This performance was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere over the weekend, having also finished third in the downhill on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Injury
Vonn ended her career in February 2019 as a result of ongoing knee problems. However, she returned to racing 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 form are timely.
She already possesses one gold and two bronze medals from previous Games and is firmly on track to represent 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
In addition to her Games aspirations, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four World Cup titles she has accumulated over a career spanning two decades.
She presently enjoys a 69-point lead at the summit of the downhill World Cup rankings and is ranked fifth in the super-G World Cup table.
This season's World Cup circuit features a nine more events scheduled before the season finals in Norway on 21 March 2026.
