The skiing legend Confident of Being 'in a good place' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn underwent a surgical implant fitted to her right knee throughout her time away from competitive skiing.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn asserts she will be "in a good place" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, after claiming a top-three finish for the fourth time in five World Cup races.
The veteran athlete, who achieved a milestone by becoming the most senior racer to win a downhill World Cup winner, finished third in the super-G in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This marked her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup top-three result.
Strong Return in the French Alps
Returning to the iconic venue for the first occasion in eight years, Vonn finished the course 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 securing the runner-up spot.
"I didn't quite have the right line on the initial jump," Vonn said. "After that, I performed strongly. I'm happy with my run today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was not aggressive enough."
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 Injury
Vonn ended her career in February 2019 due to persistent injuries. However, she staged a competitive comeback in late 2024 following a partial knee replacement.
With just over six weeks remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are scheduled for 6-22 February, Vonn's performances are timely.
She has one gold and two Olympic bronze medals from previous Games and is strongly positioned to compete for the United States at the 2026 Games.
"When we get to Cortina, I will be fully ready," Vonn affirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
In addition to her Games aspirations, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four overall crystal globes she has won over a professional journey spanning two decades.
She presently enjoys a 69-point lead at the top of the downhill World Cup rankings and is ranked fifth in the overall super-G standings.
This current World Cup circuit includes a total of nine races scheduled before the season finals in Norway on March 21st, 2026.
