The skiing legend Confident of Being 'in prime form' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
The veteran skier had a titanium prosthesis placed in her right knee during her hiatus from competitive skiing.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "perfectly prepared" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, on the back of claiming a place on the rostrum for the fourth instance in five World Cup races.
The 41-year-old, who achieved a milestone by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, came in third place in the super-G in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This marked her 142nd career World Cup top-three result.
Strong Return in Val d'Isere
Returning to the French Alps resort for the first occasion in eight years, Vonn finished the course in a time of 1:20.60. She was 0.36 seconds behind winner 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 remarked. "From that point on, I skied well. I'm happy with my skiing today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was too conservative."
This performance was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere over the weekend, having also taken third in the downhill race on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Retirement
Vonn officially retired in early 2019 because of persistent injuries. However, she returned to racing in late 2024 following a major knee surgery.
With 47 days remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are scheduled for February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are highly promising.
She boasts an Olympic gold and two bronze medals from previous Games and is strongly positioned to compete for the United States at the next Olympics.
"When we get to Cortina, I will be where I need to be," the athlete confirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
Alongside her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four World Cup titles she has secured over a professional journey spanning two decades.
She presently enjoys a substantial lead at the summit of the downhill World Cup rankings and is sitting in fifth place in the overall super-G standings.
This season's World Cup circuit includes a total of nine races scheduled before the circuit finale in Norway on 21 March 2026.
