The China Mail - Vonn claims third podium of the season at Val d'Isere

On her return to Val d'Isere, where she has won seven times, the 41-year-old American, who returned to the world circuit last winter after retiring in 2019, was only beaten by winner Cornelia Huetter of Austria and Germany's Kira Weidle-Winkelmann.

With 48 days to go until the start of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo (February 6-22), Vonn confirmed that she will be a force to be reckoned with.

Despite a poor line choice on a turn, she clinched the 141st podium of her World Cup career, 0.35sec off first.

She has had an impressive start to the season with a victory last weekend in St Moritz, Switzerland -- her first success on the world circuit in seven years -- with her worst result so far being her fourth place in the St Moritz super-G.

She leads the Downhill World Cup, which she has won eight times.

While Vonn, transformed after having a titanium prosthesis fitted to her right knee, was all smiles after her run, the race's other big favourite, Sofia Goggia, endured a disappointing day.

The Italian lost any chance of winning with a costly mistake halfway through the race.

The 2018 Olympic champion and 2022 Olympic silver medallist in the discipline finished in eighth place, 0.62sec off Huetter.

The Val d'Isere leg concludes on Sunday with a super-G.

V.Liu--ThChM