The veteran skier underwent a artificial joint placed in her right knee during her hiatus from competitive skiing.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn has declared she will be "in an excellent position" for the upcoming Winter Olympics, on the back of earning a top-three finish for the fourth time in five World Cup races.
The veteran athlete, who recently made history by becoming the most senior racer to win a downhill World Cup winner, took the bronze position in the super giant slalom in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This marked her one hundred and forty-second career World Cup top-three result.
Returning to the French Alps resort for the first occasion in almost a decade, Vonn crossed the line in a time of 1:20.60. She was just over a third of a second behind victor Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson securing second place.
"I was slightly lacking enough direction on the initial jump," the skier commented. "After that, I performed strongly. I'm happy with my performance today, in contrast to in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was not aggressive enough."
This performance was her second top-three finish at Val d'Isere during the event, having also finished third in the downhill on Saturday.
Vonn officially retired in early 2019 as a result of ongoing knee problems. However, she made a stunning return in late 2024 following 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 form are timely.
She has an Olympic gold and two bronze medals from previous Games and is firmly on track to represent the United States at the 2026 Games.
"At the Olympics, I will be fully ready," Vonn affirmed.
Alongside her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four World Cup titles she has accumulated over a career spanning 20 years.
She currently holds a substantial lead at the summit 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 total of nine races taking place before the season finals in Kvitfjell, Norway on 21 March 2026.
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