Lindsey Vonn Assured of Being 'in prime form' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
Vonn had a titanium prosthesis installed in her right knee during her break from alpine racing.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn states she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, on the back of securing a place on the rostrum for the fourth instance in five World Cup races.
The veteran athlete, who recently made history by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, took the bronze position in the super-G in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This marked her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup podium finish.
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 1:20.60. She was 0.36 seconds behind victor 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. "From that point on, I performed strongly. I'm satisfied with my run today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was overly cautious."
This performance was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere during the event, having also taken third in the downhill on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Retirement
Vonn officially retired in early 2019 as a result of persistent injuries. However, she returned to racing 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 performances are timely.
She has one gold and two Olympic bronze medals in her collection and is firmly on track to compete for 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 accumulated over a career spanning two decades.
She currently holds 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 campaign includes a total of nine races scheduled before the season finals in Kvitfjell, Norway on 21 March 2026.
