Lindsey Vonn Confident of Being 'perfectly positioned' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn had a titanium prosthesis placed in her right knee throughout her hiatus from alpine racing.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn asserts she will be "in a good place" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, following securing a place on the rostrum for the fourth time in five World Cup competitions.
The 41-year-old, who achieved a milestone by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, finished third 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.
Impressive Performance in the French Alps
Returning to the iconic venue for the first occasion in eight years, Vonn crossed the line in a time of 1:20.60. She was just over a third of a second behind winner Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson taking the runner-up spot.
"I didn't quite have enough direction on the initial jump," Vonn remarked. "After that, 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 result was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere during the event, having also claimed bronze in the downhill race on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Injury
Vonn stepped away from competition in early 2019 because of persistent injuries. However, she returned to racing in December 2024 after a major knee surgery.
With just over six weeks remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are set to run from 6-22 February, Vonn's performances are timely.
She already possesses an Olympic gold and two bronze medals in her collection and is strongly positioned to represent the United States at the 2026 Games.
"At the Olympics, 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 won over a professional journey spanning 20 years.
She presently enjoys a substantial lead at the top of the overall downhill standings and is ranked fifth in the overall super-G standings.
This season's World Cup circuit includes a nine more events scheduled before the season finals in Norway on 21 March 2026.
