Lindsey Vonn — Biography
Lindsey Caroline Vonn, born Kildow on October 18, 1984, is an accomplished alpine ski racer from the United States. She has secured four World Cup overall championships, placing her third among female skiers, trailing only Annemarie Moser-Pröll and Mikaela Shiffrin. Vonn achieved three consecutive titles in 2008, 2009, and 2010, along with another championship in 2012. At the 2010 Winter Olympics, she made history by winning the gold medal in downhill, marking a significant milestone as the first American woman to do so.
Vonn's prowess is further evidenced by her record-breaking eight World Cup season titles in the downhill discipline between 2008 and 2013, as well as in 2015 and 2016. Additionally, she has clinched five titles in super-G from 2009 to 2012 and in 2015, alongside three consecutive combined titles from 2010 to 2012. In 2016, she reached a remarkable milestone by earning her 20th World Cup crystal globe title, surpassing the previous record of 19 held by Swedish skier Ingemar Stenmark from 1975 to 1984. Her ranking in super-G is among the highest of any skier, regardless of gender. Vonn is one of only six women to have triumphed in all five alpine skiing disciplines: downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, and super combined, and she has a total of 82 World Cup victories throughout her career. This remarkable total stood as a women’s record until January 2023 when Mikaela Shiffrin surpassed it. Only Shiffrin and Stenmark, with his tally of 86 victories, hold more wins than Vonn.
With a collection of medals, including an Olympic gold and bronze, two gold medals from the World Championships in 2009, three silver medals in 2007 and 2011, and her four overall World Cup titles, Vonn stands out as one of the most successful ski racers in American history and is widely regarded among skiing's greatest. In recognition of her accomplishments, she received the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award in 2011 and was named the United States Olympic Committee's sportswoman of the year. Throughout her career, injuries have sidelined her during several seasons, notably keeping her out of almost the entire 2014 season and most of 2013. While she recovered, Vonn contributed to NBC News as a correspondent during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. In 2019, she declared her retirement from competitive skiing, primarily due to her injuries, but she announced her intention to return to competitive skiing in November 2024.
Vonn's prowess is further evidenced by her record-breaking eight World Cup season titles in the downhill discipline between 2008 and 2013, as well as in 2015 and 2016. Additionally, she has clinched five titles in super-G from 2009 to 2012 and in 2015, alongside three consecutive combined titles from 2010 to 2012. In 2016, she reached a remarkable milestone by earning her 20th World Cup crystal globe title, surpassing the previous record of 19 held by Swedish skier Ingemar Stenmark from 1975 to 1984. Her ranking in super-G is among the highest of any skier, regardless of gender. Vonn is one of only six women to have triumphed in all five alpine skiing disciplines: downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, and super combined, and she has a total of 82 World Cup victories throughout her career. This remarkable total stood as a women’s record until January 2023 when Mikaela Shiffrin surpassed it. Only Shiffrin and Stenmark, with his tally of 86 victories, hold more wins than Vonn.
With a collection of medals, including an Olympic gold and bronze, two gold medals from the World Championships in 2009, three silver medals in 2007 and 2011, and her four overall World Cup titles, Vonn stands out as one of the most successful ski racers in American history and is widely regarded among skiing's greatest. In recognition of her accomplishments, she received the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award in 2011 and was named the United States Olympic Committee's sportswoman of the year. Throughout her career, injuries have sidelined her during several seasons, notably keeping her out of almost the entire 2014 season and most of 2013. While she recovered, Vonn contributed to NBC News as a correspondent during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. In 2019, she declared her retirement from competitive skiing, primarily due to her injuries, but she announced her intention to return to competitive skiing in November 2024.
