The skiing legend Confident of Being 'perfectly positioned' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
The veteran skier underwent a artificial joint placed in her right knee during her break from alpine racing.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "perfectly prepared" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, on the back of earning a place on the rostrum for the fourth instance in her last five World Cup competitions.
The 41-year-old, who last week set a record by becoming the most senior racer to win a downhill World Cup winner, took the bronze position in the super-G in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This marked her 142nd career World Cup top-three result.
Impressive Performance in the French Alps
Competing at the iconic venue for the first time in eight years, Vonn finished the course in a time of one minute 20.60 seconds. She was 0.36 seconds 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," Vonn remarked. "Subsequently, I skied well. I'm happy with my run today, unlike in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was overly cautious."
This result was her second podium at Val d'Isere during the event, having also taken third in the downhill race on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Injury
Vonn officially retired in February 2019 because of ongoing knee problems. However, she made a stunning return in late 2024 after a major knee surgery.
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 form are timely.
She already possesses one gold and two Olympic bronze medals in her collection and is strongly positioned to represent the United States at the next Olympics.
"In Cortina, I will be where I need to be," Vonn affirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
In addition to her Games aspirations, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four World Cup titles she has accumulated over a career spanning 20 years.
She presently enjoys 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 includes a total of nine races taking place before the season finals in Norway on March 21st, 2026.