Lindsey Vonn confirms this ski season will be her last as Alpine ‘speed queen’ will retire regardless of record
Widely regarded as the greatest female skier of all time, Vonn is just four World Cup wins behind Ingemar Stenmark’s record of 86
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Lindsey Vonn, widely regarded as the greatest female ski racer of all-time, will retire from competition following the 2018/19 season even if she fails to break the record for World Cup wins, the American said on Thursday.
The 33-year-old holds the women’s record of 82 World Cup wins and trails only Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark’s long-standing mark of 86.
“This is going to be my last season. Definitely retiring after this year,” Vonn said in New York while moderating a panel on small businesses.
“If I could break the record that would be amazing, if I can’t it has been a great ride and I am still the most successful female and I still think that’s something to be really proud of.
“So we’ll just see what happens this year.”
Vonn, who in 2015 founded the education-focused Lindsey Vonn Foundation, said she would turn her attention to launching her own business when she hangs up her skis.
“My experiences on the slopes have helped shape me into who I am today,” she said on Twitter.
“I’m confident those same lessons will pay off as I begin to explore what’s next for my career.”
Since first tearing her ACL in 2007, Vonn has suffered frequent knee ligament injuries as well as broken bones. She missed the 2014 Sochi Games due to a serious knee injury which she has been managing ever since.
The Minnesota-born skier had said at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics that she would not quit until beating Stenmark’s record.
“I am hoping that is just one season. I am not going to quit until I get that record, that is for sure, no matter how much pain I am in,” Vonn said in February.
“But I really hope it only takes one more season because it would be difficult for me to continue on after that.”
US Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Tiger Shaw hailed Vonn as an icon of world sport.
“The news today that the forthcoming season will be Lindsey’s last is to be celebrated,” Shaw said.
“We all have a chance to watch an incredible athlete end her glittering competitive ski racing career by writing a record breaking new chapter. That is an appropriate way to pay homage to this chapter of Lindsey’s life.”
Vonn, who became the oldest women’s alpine skier to win an Olympic medal when she picked up a downhill bronze in South Korea earlier this year, has also stated her desire to test herself against her male counterparts.
Vonn, who began skiing at the age of three and started racing at seven, picked up her first Olympic medal when she won gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games.
Vonn’s final season will kick off in Lake Louise in late November.
Reuters
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments