Lindsey Vonn Assured of Being 'perfectly positioned' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Vonn underwent a titanium prosthesis placed in her right knee during her break from competitive skiing.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn asserts she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, after securing a place on the rostrum for the fourth time in her last five World Cup races.
The veteran athlete, who achieved a milestone by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, came in third place in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This marked her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup top-three result.
Strong Return in Val d'Isere
Racing in the iconic venue for the first occasion 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 victor Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson taking the runner-up spot.
"I was slightly lacking enough direction on the first jump," Vonn remarked. "Subsequently, I performed strongly. I'm pleased with my skiing today, unlike in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was too conservative."
This performance was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere during the event, having also taken third in the downhill race on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Injury
Vonn ended her career in February 2019 due to persistent injuries. However, she staged a competitive comeback in December 2024 after a significant orthopedic procedure.
With just over six weeks remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are scheduled for 6-22 February, Vonn's form are timely.
She has 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.
"In Cortina, I will be in a good place," Vonn affirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
In addition to 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 presently enjoys a 69-point lead at the summit of the overall downhill standings and is ranked fifth in the overall super-G standings.
This current World Cup circuit includes a total of nine races scheduled before the circuit finale in Kvitfjell, Norway on March 21st, 2026.
