The skiing legend Confident of Being 'in prime form' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn underwent a titanium prosthesis installed in her right knee throughout her hiatus from competitive skiing.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "perfectly prepared" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, after securing a top-three finish for the fourth instance in her last 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-G in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This represented her 142nd career World Cup top-three result.
Impressive Performance in Val d'Isere
Racing in the French Alps resort for the first occasion in almost a decade, Vonn crossed the line 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 didn't quite have enough direction on the first jump," Vonn remarked. "After that, I skied well. I'm happy with my skiing today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was too conservative."
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 Retirement
Vonn officially retired in early 2019 due to persistent injuries. However, she staged a competitive comeback in late 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 highly promising.
She already possesses an Olympic gold and two bronze medals in her collection and is strongly positioned to represent the United States at the next Olympics.
"When we get to Cortina, I will be fully ready," the athlete confirmed.
Chasing More Titles
In addition to her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four World Cup titles she has accumulated over a career spanning two decades.
She currently holds 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 campaign features a nine more events taking place before the circuit finale in Norway on March 21st, 2026.
