The American champion Confident of Being 'in prime form' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Vonn underwent a artificial joint placed in her right knee during her time away from alpine racing.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn asserts she will be "perfectly prepared" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, after securing a podium spot for the fourth instance in five World Cup races.
The veteran athlete, 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 was her 142nd career World Cup podium finish.
Strong Return in the French Alps
Competing at the iconic venue for the first time in eight years, Vonn finished the course in a time of 1:20.60. She was just over a third of a second behind victor Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson securing second place.
"I didn't quite have enough direction on the first jump," the skier commented. "After that, I skied well. I'm satisfied with my performance today, unlike 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 finished third in the downhill on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Retirement
Vonn ended her career in February 2019 as a result of ongoing knee problems. However, she returned to racing in late 2024 following a partial knee replacement.
With less than two months remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are set to run from February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are highly promising.
She has one gold and two Olympic bronze medals from previous Games and is strongly positioned to represent the United States at the next Olympics.
"In Cortina, I will be where I need to be," the athlete confirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
In addition to her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four World Cup titles she has accumulated over a career spanning 20 years.
She currently holds a substantial lead at the top of the downhill World Cup rankings and is ranked fifth in the super-G World Cup table.
This current World Cup campaign features a nine more events scheduled before the season finals in Norway on 21 March 2026.
