Lindsey (Kildow) Vonn was born in St. Paul, MN in 1984. She began skiing at the age of two at Buck Hill in Burnsville, MN – a suburb about twenty-three miles south of the Twin Cities of St. Paul – Minneapolis.
She is a world class alpine skier with four overall World Cup victories (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011), and four Olympic appearances (2002, 2006, 2010, 2018) resulting in three Olympic medals (one Gold, two Bronze). She was also named the U.S. Olympic Committee’s SportsWoman of the Year in 2009 and 2010.
Vonn has won seven World Cup season titles in Downhill (2008–2013, 2015, 2016), five titles in Super-G (2009–2012, 2015), and three in Combined (2010–2012). In 2015 she broke the women’s all-time record for World Cup victories and is in second place overall with 81 World Cup victories.
She is the most successful female downhill ski racer in U.S. history, but missed the 2014 Olympics after a career threatening knee injury. She returned to competition in 2015. In 2018, she won the Olympic Bronze in Downhill at age 33 and became the oldest woman to win an Olympic Alpine skiing medal.
Background
Lindsey first became involved in downhill skiing at the infamous Buck Hill Ski Racing School in Burnsville, MN, lead by Erich Sailer. Sailer is a native of Austria and world class skier in his own right. His coaching skills have brought him unprecedented accolades, including induction into the Skiing Hall of Fame in 2006. He has coached several Minnesotans to U.S. Ski Team caliber including Kristina Koznick.
In a 2010 television interview, Lindsey mentioned that she had dreamed of winning an Olympic Gold Medal ever since she was 9 years old. At about the age of 16, Lindsey (and family) left the icy slopes of Minnesota and headed west to the mountains of Vail, Colorado to continue with her dream.
On February 17, 2010, at the age of 26, Lindsey Vonn won her first Olympic Gold Medal in the Women’s Downhill at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. She went on to win a second medal (Bronze) later that week in the Super-G. She is the only woman in the U.S. to have won the Gold medal for the Downhill in the Olympics.
Lindsey Vonn Fun Facts
- What High School Did Lindsey Vonn Attend?
Lindsey was enrolled in the MU High School program. This is a program that allows students to continue their studies without the need to attend regularly scheduled classes. It is a program offered through the University of Missouri Center for Distance and Independent Study. Lindsey received her High School diploma through this program. - Why Did Lindsey Vonn Switch From Rossignol to Head Skis?
Lindsey has skied on Rossignol skis most of her life. In Spring 2009 Rossignol announced that it was slashing the baseline salaries of the ski racers it sponsored. This included the best female racer in the world, Lindsey Vonn. As a result, Lindsey decided to make the switch to Head skis, bindings and boots. - Why Does Lindsey Vonn Ski On Men’s Skis?
“I’m taller (5’10”) and maybe a little bit heavier than most of the other girls,” Vonn said after winning the third super-combined of her career. “So for me, the men’s skis are more stable. It’s harder to turn, of course, it takes more strength. But I’m able to generate a lot of speed from the turns.” (SFGate.com) - Is Lindsey Vonn Married?
No, Lindsey was married to Thomas Vonn, a former Alpine skier who competed for the United States in the 2002 Olympics. He was also her coach. In 2013 their divorce was finalized. Lindsey’s maiden name is Kildow, but she continued using Vonn as her last name.