Lindsey Vonn Confident of Being 'in a good place' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
Vonn underwent a titanium prosthesis fitted to her right knee during her break from the sport.
Legendary skier Lindsey Vonn asserts she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, on the back of claiming a podium spot for the fourth instance in her last five World Cup races.
The veteran athlete, who achieved a milestone by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, took the bronze position in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This marked her 142nd career World Cup top-three result.
Impressive Performance in Val d'Isere
Competing at the iconic venue for the first time in eight years, Vonn crossed the line in a time of one minute 20.60 seconds. She was 0.36 seconds behind winner 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 said. "After that, I performed strongly. I'm satisfied with my performance today, unlike in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was not aggressive enough."
This result was her second podium at Val d'Isere during the event, 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 returned to racing in late 2024 following a partial knee replacement.
With just over six weeks remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are set to run from February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are timely.
She already possesses one gold and two bronze medals in her collection and is strongly positioned to compete for the United States at the 2026 Games.
"In Cortina, I will be in a good place," the athlete confirmed.
Chasing More Titles
Alongside her Games aspirations, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four World Cup titles she has accumulated over a professional journey spanning 20 years.
She currently holds a 69-point lead at the top of the downhill World Cup rankings and is sitting in fifth place in the super-G World Cup table.
This current World Cup circuit includes a total of nine races scheduled before the circuit finale in Kvitfjell, Norway on March 21st, 2026.
