The American champion Optimistic of Being 'in prime form' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics

Vonn on the slopes

Vonn had a artificial joint placed in her right knee throughout her time away from the sport.

Legendary skier Lindsey Vonn states she will be "in an excellent position" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, after claiming a place on the rostrum for the fourth time in her last five World Cup races.

The 41-year-old, who last week set a record by becoming the oldest 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 podium finish.

Strong Return in the French Alps

Competing at the iconic venue for the first time 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 the right line on the first jump," the skier commented. "After that, I skied well. I'm happy with my performance today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was overly cautious."

This result was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere over the weekend, having also taken third in the downhill race on Saturday.

An Incredible Return from Retirement

Vonn ended her career in early 2019 due to persistent injuries. However, she returned to racing in late 2024 after a partial knee replacement.

With just over six weeks remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are scheduled for February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are highly promising.

She already possesses one gold and two bronze medals in her collection and is strongly positioned to compete for the United States at the 2026 Games.

"In Cortina, I will be fully ready," Vonn affirmed.

Aiming for Further Glory

In addition to her Games aspirations, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four World Cup titles she has secured over a career spanning two decades.

She currently holds a 69-point lead at the summit of the downhill World Cup rankings and is ranked fifth in the overall super-G standings.

This season's World Cup campaign features a nine more events scheduled before the circuit finale in Norway on 21 March 2026.

Katherine Allison
Katherine Allison

A productivity consultant and writer with over a decade of experience in workplace optimization and time management strategies.