The skiing legend Optimistic of Being 'in a good place' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn underwent a artificial joint fitted to her right knee throughout her break from the sport.
Legendary skier Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "in a good place" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, following securing a top-three finish for the fourth instance in five World Cup competitions.
The 41-year-old, who achieved a milestone 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 podium finish.
Impressive Performance in Val d'Isere
Returning to the French Alps resort for the first occasion in almost a decade, Vonn finished the course in a time of one minute 20.60 seconds. She was 0.36 seconds behind winner Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson securing second place.
"I didn't quite have enough direction on the initial jump," the skier commented. "After that, I skied well. I'm pleased with my run today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was not aggressive enough."
This result was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere over the weekend, having also finished third in the downhill race on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Retirement
Vonn officially retired in February 2019 due to persistent injuries. However, she returned to racing in December 2024 after a significant orthopedic procedure.
With just over six weeks remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are set to run from February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are highly promising.
She has one gold and two bronze medals from previous Games and is strongly positioned to represent the United States at the 2026 Games.
"At the Olympics, I will be in a good place," the athlete confirmed.
Chasing More Titles
Alongside her Games aspirations, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four overall crystal globes she has accumulated over a career spanning two decades.
She presently enjoys a substantial lead at the summit of the overall downhill standings and is sitting in fifth place in the super-G World Cup table.
This season's World Cup circuit includes a nine more events taking place before the circuit finale in Kvitfjell, Norway on 21 March 2026.
