The Japan Times - Veteran skier Vonn 'in possibly the best shape' of her life

Vonn, who turned 41 in October, came out of a six-year-long retirement last winter to become the oldest woman to secure a World Cup podium when second in the Sun Valley super-G.

"I think for my age, I feel pretty damn good," she said at the Swiss resort ahead of Friday's downhill.

"I think I probably feel better now than I did before I tore my first ACL (cruciate knee ligament) in 2013," added Vonn, who retired due to multiple injuries in 2019 only to return last season.

"Everything is feeling great. I'm physically in possibly the best shape I've ever been in, which is fun.

"And my body doesn't hurt, so I think that's the best part of all," added the 2010 Olympic downhill champion.

Vonn is aiming to add to her 82 World Cup wins, two world titles and four overall crystal globes, with her main focus being February's Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games.

She has been working hard over the summer to be in the best shape possible.

"My goal was definitely to get a lot stronger this summer. I was thinner than I would have liked last season," said the Minnesota-born Vonn.

"I didn't really have any time to prepare. I didn't have enough time to really gain my (muscle) mass back.

"I'm still quite a bit lighter than I was when I was racing in my prime, but I was able to gain about 12 pounds (5.4kg) this summer, which I was thrilled about."

After clocking the fastest time in a training run on Wednesday, she is raring to line up for her season-opener on Friday on a slope where she has already won five times.

"Everything is lined up as literally the best it possibly could be.

"I couldn't be in a better position, so that makes me very excited because then that means I can ski as fast as my mind wants to ski."

H.Takahashi--JT