Vonn underwent a artificial joint placed in her right knee throughout her hiatus from the sport.
Alpine star Lindsey Vonn states she will be "in an excellent position" for the Milan-Cortina Olympics, after securing a top-three finish for the fourth time in five World Cup races.
The 41-year-old, who recently made history by becoming the oldest downhill World Cup winner, took the bronze position in the super-G in Val d'Isere on Sunday. This was her 142nd career World Cup top-three result.
Racing in the iconic venue for the first occasion in almost a decade, Vonn crossed the line in a time of one minute 20.60 seconds. She was 0.36 seconds behind winner Sofia Goggia of Italy, with New Zealand's Alice Robinson taking second place.
"I was slightly lacking the right line on the first jump," Vonn remarked. "Subsequently, I skied well. I'm happy with my skiing today, unlike in the super-G in St Moritz, where I was overly cautious."
This result was her second podium at Val d'Isere during the event, having also finished third in the downhill on Saturday.
Vonn ended her career in February 2019 as a result of ongoing knee problems. However, she returned to racing in late 2024 following a major knee surgery.
With less than two months remaining until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which are set to run from February 6th to the 22nd, Vonn's performances are highly promising.
She boasts one gold and two bronze medals in her collection and is firmly on track to represent the United States at the 2026 Games.
"At the Olympics, I will be where I need to be," Vonn affirmed.
Alongside her Olympic ambitions, Vonn is also hoping to add to the four overall crystal globes she has secured over a career spanning 20 years.
She presently enjoys a substantial 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 features a total of nine races scheduled before the season finals in Kvitfjell, Norway on 21 March 2026.
Mira is a tech journalist and AI researcher with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and their societal impacts.