Lindsey Vonn Assured of Being 'in a good place' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Lindsey Vonn underwent a artificial joint installed in her right knee throughout her hiatus from alpine racing.
American skiing icon Lindsey Vonn asserts she will be "in a good place" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, after earning a place on the rostrum for the fourth instance in her last five World Cup races.
The veteran athlete, who last week set a record by becoming the most senior racer to win a downhill World Cup winner, took the bronze position in the super-G in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This marked her 142nd career World Cup top-three result.
Strong Return in Val d'Isere
Returning to the iconic venue for the first time in eight years, Vonn crossed the line 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 second place.
"I didn't quite have enough direction on the first jump," Vonn said. "From that point on, I skied well. I'm happy with my performance 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 finished third in the downhill race on Saturday.
A Remarkable Comeback from Injury
Vonn ended her career in February 2019 as a result of ongoing knee problems. However, she returned to racing in December 2024 following a partial knee replacement.
With 47 days remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are scheduled for February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are highly promising.
She boasts one gold and two 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.
Aiming for Further Glory
In addition to her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four overall crystal globes she has accumulated over a career spanning two decades.
She presently enjoys a 69-point lead at the summit of the downhill World Cup rankings and is sitting in fifth place in the super-G World Cup table.
This season's World Cup campaign includes a nine more events taking place before the circuit finale in Kvitfjell, Norway on 21 March 2026.
