The skiing legend Optimistic of Being 'in a good place' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
The veteran skier had a artificial joint placed in her right knee during her break from alpine racing.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn states she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, on the back of securing a top-three finish for the fourth instance in five World Cup events.
The 41-year-old, who last week set a record by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, finished third in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This represented 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 eight years, Vonn finished the course in a time of 1:20.60. She was 0.36 seconds behind winner Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson taking second place.
"I was slightly lacking enough direction on the initial jump," Vonn remarked. "After that, I skied well. I'm pleased with my run 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 over the weekend, having also taken third in the downhill on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Retirement
Vonn ended her career in February 2019 because of ongoing knee problems. However, she staged a competitive comeback in December 2024 after a partial knee replacement.
With 47 days remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are scheduled for 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 2026 Games.
"At the Olympics, I will be fully ready," Vonn affirmed.
Chasing More Titles
In addition to her Games aspirations, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four overall crystal globes she has won over a career spanning two decades.
She currently holds a substantial lead at the summit of the downhill World Cup rankings and is ranked fifth in the super-G World Cup table.
This current World Cup circuit includes a total of nine races taking place before the circuit finale in Kvitfjell, Norway on 21 March 2026.
