The skiing legend Confident of Being 'in prime form' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
The veteran skier had a titanium prosthesis placed in her right knee during her time away from competitive skiing.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "in a good place" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, on the back of earning a podium spot for the fourth time in her last five World Cup events.
The 41-year-old, who achieved a milestone by becoming the most senior racer to win a downhill World Cup winner, took the bronze position in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This was her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup podium finish.
Strong Return in Val d'Isere
Competing at the iconic venue for the first occasion in eight years, Vonn finished the course in a time of one minute 20.60 seconds. She was just over a third of a second 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 first jump," the skier commented. "Subsequently, I skied well. I'm pleased with my run 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 over the weekend, having also taken third in the downhill race on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Retirement
Vonn officially retired in early 2019 due to persistent injuries. However, she staged a competitive comeback in late 2024 after a partial knee replacement.
With less than two months remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are set to run from 6-22 February, Vonn's performances are highly promising.
She boasts one gold and two Olympic 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 fully ready," the athlete confirmed.
Chasing More Titles
In addition to her Games aspirations, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four World Cup titles she has accumulated over a professional journey spanning two decades.
She presently enjoys a 69-point lead at the top of the downhill World Cup rankings and is sitting in fifth place in the overall super-G standings.
This season's World Cup circuit features a nine more events scheduled before the season finals in Norway on 21 March 2026.