The American champion Confident of Being 'perfectly positioned' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Vonn had a titanium prosthesis fitted to her right knee throughout her time away from alpine racing.
Legendary skier Lindsey Vonn states she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, on the back of earning a top-three finish for the fourth instance in five World Cup competitions.
The veteran athlete, who last week set a record by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, came in third place in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This was her 142nd career World Cup top-three result.
Strong Return in the French Alps
Racing in the iconic venue for the first occasion in almost a decade, 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 the right line on the initial jump," Vonn said. "From that point on, I performed strongly. I'm satisfied with my run today, in contrast to 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 finished third in the downhill race on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Retirement
Vonn stepped away from competition in early 2019 as a result of ongoing knee problems. However, she staged a competitive comeback in December 2024 after a significant orthopedic procedure.
With 47 days remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are scheduled for February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's form are highly promising.
She already possesses one gold and two Olympic bronze medals from previous Games and is strongly positioned 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 Games aspirations, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four World Cup titles she has secured over a professional journey 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 season's World Cup circuit features a nine more events scheduled before the season finals in Kvitfjell, Norway on March 21st, 2026.
