Lindsey Vonn Assured of Being 'perfectly positioned' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn had a titanium prosthesis placed in her right knee throughout her break from competitive skiing.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn states 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 five World Cup competitions.
The 41-year-old, 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 podium finish.
Impressive Performance in the French Alps
Returning to the French Alps resort for the first occasion in eight years, Vonn crossed the line 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 securing the runner-up spot.
"I didn't quite have enough direction on the first 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 too conservative."
This result was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere over the weekend, having also finished third in the downhill on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Retirement
Vonn officially retired in early 2019 due to persistent injuries. However, she returned to racing in late 2024 following a partial knee replacement.
With less than two months remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are scheduled for February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's form are highly promising.
She has one gold and two bronze medals from previous Games and is strongly positioned to compete for the United States at the 2026 Games.
"In Cortina, I will be fully ready," Vonn affirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
Alongside her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four World Cup titles she has secured over a career spanning 20 years.
She currently holds a substantial lead at the summit of the overall downhill standings and is sitting in fifth place in the overall super-G standings.
This current World Cup campaign features a nine more events scheduled before the season finals in Norway on 21 March 2026.
