The American champion Assured of Being 'in a good place' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
The veteran skier had a surgical implant placed in her right knee throughout her time away from the sport.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "in a good place" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, on the back of claiming a top-three finish for the fourth time in five World Cup competitions.
The veteran athlete, who recently made history by becoming the most senior racer to win a 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 Val d'Isere
Competing at the French Alps resort for the first occasion in almost a decade, Vonn crossed the line in a time of 1:20.60. She was just over a third of a second behind winner Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson taking the runner-up spot.
"I was slightly lacking enough direction on the initial jump," the skier commented. "From that point on, I performed strongly. I'm happy with my run today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was not aggressive enough."
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.
An Incredible Return from Injury
Vonn stepped away from competition in early 2019 because of ongoing knee problems. However, she made a stunning return in late 2024 following a major knee surgery.
With 47 days remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are set to run from 6-22 February, Vonn's form are highly promising.
She already possesses one gold and two bronze medals from previous Games and is firmly on track to represent the United States at the next Olympics.
"At the Olympics, I will be fully ready," the athlete confirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
In addition to her Games aspirations, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four overall crystal globes she has won over a career 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 campaign includes a nine more events taking place before the season finals in Norway on 21 March 2026.
