The skiing legend Optimistic of Being 'in a good place' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn underwent a titanium prosthesis placed in her right knee during her break from alpine racing.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, on the back of securing a podium spot for the fourth time in her last five World Cup competitions.
The veteran athlete, who achieved a milestone by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, took the bronze position in the super-G in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This represented her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup top-three result.
Strong Return in the French Alps
Racing in the French Alps resort for the first occasion in almost a decade, Vonn finished the course 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 second place.
"I didn't quite have enough direction on the initial jump," Vonn remarked. "After that, I performed strongly. I'm happy with my run today, unlike in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was overly cautious."
This performance was her second podium at Val d'Isere during the event, having also taken third in the downhill on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Injury
Vonn ended her career in early 2019 as a result of ongoing knee problems. However, she returned to racing in December 2024 following a major knee surgery.
With 47 days 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 from previous Games and is firmly on track to represent the United States at the 2026 Games.
"When we get to Cortina, I will be in a good place," the athlete confirmed.
Chasing More Titles
Alongside her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four World Cup titles she has secured over a career spanning 20 years.
She currently holds a substantial 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 campaign features a total of nine races scheduled before the season finals in Norway on March 21st, 2026.
