Lindsey Vonn Optimistic of Being 'perfectly positioned' for Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics

Alpine star Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "perfectly prepared" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, on the back of earning a place on the rostrum for the fourth instance in five World Cup races.

The 41-year-old, who achieved a milestone by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, came in third place in the super-G in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This represented her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup podium finish.

Impressive Performance in the French Alps

Returning to the iconic venue for the first occasion in eight years, Vonn crossed the line in a time of one minute 20.60 seconds. She was just over a third of a second behind victor Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson taking second place.

"I didn't quite have the right line on the first jump," Vonn remarked. "From that point on, I performed strongly. I'm satisfied with my skiing today, in contrast to 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 finished third in the downhill on Saturday.

An Incredible Return from Retirement

Vonn officially retired in February 2019 because of ongoing knee problems. However, she returned to racing in December 2024 after a major knee surgery.

With just over six weeks remaining until the 2026 Winter Games, which are set to run from 6-22 February, Vonn's performances are highly promising.

She boasts an Olympic gold and two Olympic bronze medals from previous Games and is strongly positioned to represent the United States at the next Olympics.

"At the Olympics, I will be in a good place," the athlete confirmed.

Aiming for Further Glory

Alongside her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four World Cup titles she has secured over a career spanning two decades.

She presently enjoys a 69-point lead at the summit of the overall downhill standings and is sitting in fifth place in the overall super-G standings.

This current World Cup circuit features a nine more events scheduled before the circuit finale in Kvitfjell, Norway on March 21st, 2026.