Lindsey Vonn Confident of Being 'in prime form' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics
The veteran skier had a titanium prosthesis installed in her right knee during her hiatus from alpine racing.
Legendary skier Lindsey Vonn states she will be "perfectly prepared" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, on the back of securing a top-three finish for the fourth time in her last five World Cup events.
The 41-year-old, who achieved a milestone by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, finished third in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This represented her 142nd career World Cup podium finish.
Impressive Performance in the French Alps
Competing at the iconic venue for the first occasion in almost a decade, Vonn finished the course in a time of 1:20.60. She was just over a third of a second 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," Vonn remarked. "After that, I performed strongly. I'm happy with my skiing today, unlike in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was not aggressive enough."
This result was her second podium at Val d'Isere over the weekend, having also taken third in the downhill on Saturday.
An Incredible Return from Retirement
Vonn ended her career in February 2019 because of ongoing knee problems. However, she staged a competitive comeback in December 2024 following a major knee surgery.
With just over six weeks remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are scheduled for 6-22 February, Vonn's form are highly promising.
She boasts one gold and two bronze medals in her collection and is firmly on track to compete for the United States at the next Olympics.
"When we get to Cortina, I will be fully ready," Vonn affirmed.
Aiming for Further Glory
Alongside her Games aspirations, Vonn is also aiming to increase the four World Cup titles she has accumulated over a professional journey spanning 20 years.
She currently holds a 69-point 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.
