The American champion Assured of Being 'perfectly positioned' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
The veteran skier had a artificial joint installed in her right knee throughout her time away from alpine racing.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "perfectly prepared" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, after claiming a place on the rostrum for the fourth time in five World Cup competitions.
The 41-year-old, who last week set a record by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, finished third in the super-G in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This represented her 142nd career World Cup podium finish.
Strong Return in Val d'Isere
Competing at the iconic venue for the first occasion in eight years, Vonn crossed the line 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 taking second place.
"I didn't quite have the right line on the initial jump," Vonn remarked. "From that point on, I skied well. I'm satisfied with my skiing 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 over the weekend, having also claimed bronze in the downhill on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Retirement
Vonn officially retired in February 2019 as a result of persistent injuries. However, she staged a competitive comeback in December 2024 after a partial knee replacement.
With just over six weeks remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are scheduled for February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are highly promising.
She boasts an Olympic gold and two bronze medals from previous Games and is firmly on track to compete for the United States at the next Olympics.
"In Cortina, I will be where I need to be," the athlete confirmed.
Chasing More Titles
In addition to her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four World Cup titles she has secured over a professional journey spanning 20 years.
She currently holds a substantial lead at the top of the downhill World Cup rankings and is sitting in fifth place in the super-G World Cup table.
This current World Cup circuit includes a nine more events taking place before the season finals in Norway on 21 March 2026.