Lindsey Vonn secured her first podium finish since making her comeback at the age of 40 after finishing second in the super-G at the World Cup Finals in Sun Valley, Idaho.
The three-time Olympic skiing medallist finished 1.29 seconds behind Switzerland’s Lara Gut-Behrami, who claimed a record sixth super-G title.
American Vonn retired in February 2019 but announced she would come back to the sport in November last year having had successful knee surgery in April.
She made her competitive return at the FIS Fall Festival at Copper Mountain, Colorado in December.
“I still could have skied better,” said Vonn.
“I know for next year that I belong on the podium. I know I belong on the podium right now.”
Italy’s Federica Brignone, who led the super-G season standings by five points going into the event, finished third.
Vonn, who turns 41 in October, is aiming to make the US team for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
“I answered a lot of people’s doubts,” she added. “And I never doubted myself.
“Age is just a number, if you feel good and you’re mentally still driven and work hard you can achieve anything you set your mind to.”
Vonn made her World Cup debut aged 16 in 2000 and went on to win 20 World Cup titles – including four overall Crystal Globes – and eight World Championship medals, with 137 World Cup podiums and 82 World Cup victories.
Vonn won Olympic downhill gold at the Winter Games in Vancouver in 2010, where she also took bronze in the Super-G. She claimed another downhill bronze in Pyeongchang in 2018.
