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American Lindsey Vonn claimed a podium spot for the third time in four World Cup races by finishing third in the downhill in Val d’Isere on Saturday.<\/b><\/p>\n
The 41-year-old, who last week became the oldest downhill World Cup winner,<\/a> clinched her 141st World Cup podium finish.<\/p>\n Vonn, who had not raced at the French Alps resort in eight years, crossed the line in one minute 41.89 seconds – 0.35secs behind winner Cornelia Huetter of Austria, with Kira Weidle-Winkelmann of Germany in second.<\/p>\n “I thought it was actually not bad,” Vonn said. “I skied well in the middle and then on the bottom I was carrying a lot of speed.<\/p>\n “With the light, I didn’t quite see the terrain and I lost my balance. It cost me probably half a second or more, so I’m disappointed in myself for that mistake.”<\/p>\n Vonn retired from the sport<\/a> in February 2019 because of injury and made her competitive return<\/a> in December 2024 following a partial knee replacement.<\/p>\n With 48 days to go until the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which run from 6-22 February, Vonn will be hoping to add to the four World Cup titles she has gathered over a career that has spanned 20 years.<\/p>\n “I’m just happy that I hung on to the podium and the red [leader’s] bib,” added Vonn, who is now 69 points clear at the top of the overall downhill standings.<\/p>\n She already has one gold and two bronze Olympic medals to her name and is on track to represent the United States at the 2026 Games.<\/p>\n Saturday’s event was part of this season’s World Cup campaign, with a total of nine races taking place before the Finals at Kvitfjell in Norway on 21 March 2026. The Val d’Isere leg concludes on Sunday with a super-G.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n