The skiing legend Assured of Being 'in prime form' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn underwent a titanium prosthesis fitted to her right knee throughout her break from alpine racing.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "in a good place" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, after earning a top-three finish for the fourth instance in her last five World Cup races.
The 41-year-old, who achieved a milestone by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, came in third place in the super-G in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This was her 142nd career World Cup top-three result.
Impressive Performance in the French Alps
Racing in the French Alps resort 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 securing the runner-up spot.
"I didn't quite have enough direction on the initial jump," the skier commented. "From that point on, I performed strongly. I'm pleased with my skiing today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was not aggressive enough."
This result was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere over the weekend, having also taken third in the downhill on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Retirement
Vonn officially retired in early 2019 due to persistent injuries. However, she returned to racing in December 2024 following a significant orthopedic procedure.
With 47 days 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 boasts an Olympic gold and two bronze medals in her collection and is firmly on track to compete for the United States at the next Olympics.
"When we get to Cortina, I will be where I need to be," Vonn affirmed.
Chasing More Titles
Alongside her Games aspirations, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four World Cup titles she has accumulated over a career spanning two decades.
She currently holds a substantial lead at the summit of the overall downhill standings and is ranked fifth in the super-G World Cup table.
This season's World Cup campaign features a nine more events taking place before the circuit finale in Kvitfjell, Norway on March 21st, 2026.