🔗 Share this article The American champion Assured of Being 'perfectly positioned' for the upcoming Winter Olympics The veteran skier had a artificial joint installed in her right knee throughout her hiatus from competitive skiing. Alpine star Lindsey Vonn states she will be "in an excellent position" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, after claiming a podium spot for the fourth time in five World Cup events. The veteran athlete, 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 was her 142nd career World Cup podium finish. Impressive Performance in the French Alps Competing at the French Alps resort for the first occasion in almost a decade, Vonn finished the course 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 securing the runner-up spot. "I didn't quite have enough direction on the first jump," Vonn said. "Subsequently, I skied well. 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 during the event, having also finished third in the downhill on Saturday. An Incredible Return from Retirement Vonn stepped away from competition in early 2019 as a result of ongoing knee problems. However, she returned to racing in late 2024 following 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 form are timely. She has 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," the athlete confirmed. Chasing More Titles Alongside her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four World Cup titles she has accumulated over a professional journey spanning two decades. She currently holds a substantial lead at the summit of the downhill World Cup rankings and is sitting in fifth place in the super-G World Cup table. This current World Cup circuit features a total of nine races scheduled before the circuit finale in Norway on March 21st, 2026.