The American champion Assured of Being 'in a good place' for the upcoming Winter Olympics
Vonn had a surgical implant fitted to her right knee during her hiatus from alpine racing.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "perfectly prepared" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, on the back of earning a podium spot for the fourth instance in five World Cup races.
The veteran athlete, who last week set a record by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, came in third place in the super-G in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This was her 142nd career World Cup podium finish.
Strong Return in Val d'Isere
Racing in the iconic venue for the first time in almost a decade, Vonn finished the course in a time of one minute 20.60 seconds. 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," the skier commented. "From that point on, I performed strongly. I'm satisfied with my run today, unlike 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.
An Incredible Return from Injury
Vonn stepped away from competition in early 2019 due to ongoing knee problems. However, she returned to racing in late 2024 after a major knee surgery.
With less than two months remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are set to run from February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are timely.
She has one gold and two bronze medals in her collection and is firmly on track to compete for the United States at the 2026 Games.
"When we get to Cortina, I will be fully ready," Vonn affirmed.
Chasing More Titles
In addition to 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 top of the downhill World Cup rankings and is ranked fifth in the super-G World Cup table.
This season's World Cup campaign includes a nine more events scheduled before the season finals in Norway on March 21st, 2026.