Ten months since she last competed, Lindsey Vonn has returned to a World Cup course for downhill training, saying afterwards that her surgically repaired right knee felt "stable".
Vonn will decide after the training run whether to race this weekend for the first time since a high-speed crash at the world championships in February tore two ligaments in her knee and broke a bone in her lower leg.
There are downhills slated for Friday and Saturday, and a super-G on Sunday at a mountain where the American has earned 14 of her 59 career World Cup race wins. That includes three-victory sweeps in both 2011 and 2012.
"It was my first run, so I was, of course, a little bit nervous," the four-time overall World Cup champion and 2010 Olympic downhill gold medallist said.
"First training run. First kind of real race situation since February," Vonn added. "So it's been a long time, and I'm really happy."
As for her knee, the one in which she partially re-tore one of those reconstructed ligaments in a fall last month during practice?
"Knee feels good. Feels stable," Vonn said. "And, you know, just going to play it by ear tomorrow and make a decision on the race."
Vonn covered the course in 1 minute, 59.53 seconds, the 22nd-fastest time among the 65 skiers who finished Wednesday.
"She had a solid run. Just skied a bit of a conservative line, but everything was solid and she felt good, so we're pleased with how today went," said Chip White, head coach of the US women's speed team.
Asked Wednesday how much she's thinking about Sochi, Vonn said she has to worry about more immediate matters.
"I'm just trying to make sure things are good with my knee, and build confidence every day, and right now I'm focused on this particular moment," she said.
"Yeah, Sochi is obviously quite a way's away. Just trying to stay focused and focus on my knee and get my confidence back."
