Lindsey Vonn Assured of Being 'in prime form' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
The veteran skier underwent a artificial joint fitted to her right knee during her break from alpine racing.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn states she will be "perfectly prepared" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, on the back of claiming a top-three finish for the fourth time in her last five World Cup competitions.
The veteran athlete, who recently made history by becoming the most senior racer to win a downhill World Cup winner, finished third in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This marked her 142nd career World Cup top-three result.
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 1:20.60. She was 0.36 seconds behind victor 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. "After that, I performed strongly. I'm satisfied with my run 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 during the event, having also claimed bronze in the downhill race on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Injury
Vonn officially retired in early 2019 due to ongoing knee problems. However, she returned to racing in late 2024 following a partial knee replacement.
With 47 days remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are set to run from February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are timely.
She has one gold and two Olympic bronze medals in her collection and is strongly positioned to represent the United States at the 2026 Games.
"At the Olympics, I will be fully ready," Vonn affirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
In addition to her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four World Cup titles she has accumulated over a career spanning 20 years.
She presently enjoys a substantial lead at the summit of the downhill World Cup rankings and is ranked fifth in the overall super-G standings.
This current World Cup campaign features a nine more events scheduled before the season finals in Kvitfjell, Norway on March 21st, 2026.
