Lindsey Vonn Assured of Being 'in prime form' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn had a surgical implant fitted to her right knee during her hiatus from the sport.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn asserts she will be "perfectly prepared" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, on the back of earning a podium spot for the fourth instance in her last five World Cup races.
The 41-year-old, 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 one hundred and forty-second career World Cup podium finish.
Impressive Performance in Val d'Isere
Returning to the French Alps resort 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 victor Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson taking the runner-up spot.
"I didn't quite have the right line on the first jump," Vonn said. "Subsequently, I performed strongly. I'm pleased with my skiing today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was too conservative."
This result was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere during the event, having also finished third in the downhill race on Saturday.
An Incredible Return 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 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 performances are timely.
She boasts an Olympic gold and two bronze medals from previous Games and is strongly positioned to compete for the United States at the 2026 Games.
"When we get to Cortina, I will be fully ready," Vonn affirmed.
Chasing More Titles
Alongside her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four World Cup titles she has secured over a professional journey spanning two decades.
She currently holds a substantial lead at the top of the downhill World Cup rankings and is ranked fifth in the overall super-G standings.
This current World Cup circuit features a total of nine races scheduled before the season finals in Norway on 21 March 2026.
