Lindsey Vonn Assured of Being 'in a good place' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn had a surgical implant installed in her right knee throughout her break from alpine racing.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn states she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, after securing a podium spot for the fourth instance in her last five World Cup events.
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 marked her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup top-three result.
Strong Return in Val d'Isere
Returning to the iconic venue for the first occasion in eight years, Vonn finished the course in a time of 1:20.60. 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 initial jump," the skier commented. "After that, I performed strongly. I'm pleased 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 over the weekend, having also finished third in the downhill on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Injury
Vonn stepped away from competition in February 2019 as a result of ongoing knee problems. However, she staged a competitive comeback in December 2024 after a partial knee replacement.
With less than two months remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are scheduled for 6-22 February, Vonn's performances are highly promising.
She has an Olympic gold and two Olympic bronze medals from previous Games and is strongly positioned to represent the United States at the next Olympics.
"In Cortina, I will be where I need to be," Vonn affirmed.
Chasing More Titles
Alongside her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four World Cup titles she has won over a career spanning 20 years.
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 taking place before the season finals in Norway on 21 March 2026.
