Lindsey Vonn retired from competitive alpine skiing in 2019, concluding a career marked by numerous records and achievements. She won a total of 82 FIS World Cup races, the highest number ever by a female skier. Vonn also secured four overall World Cup titles in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012. During her 15-year career, she competed in four Winter Olympics, winning a gold medal in downhill in 2010 and bronze medals in both 2010 and 2018. Vonn became the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in downhill skiing.
She reached the podium 138 times in World Cup competitions and earned seven medals at World Championships. Vonn demonstrated versatility by winning races in all five alpine skiing disciplines: downhill, super-G, giant slalom, slalom, and super combined. She won the final four Downhill events in the 2018 season, with victories in Cortina and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, including her 80th World Cup win.
Vonn began skiing at nearly three years old and quickly advanced in the sport. Her career spanned over two decades, during which she was recognized as a dominant figure in women’s alpine skiing. She overcame multiple injuries, including ACL tears, yet returned each time to compete at the highest level.
She left the sport with a legacy of breaking barriers and holding records, including being the first woman to reach 82 World Cup wins. Vonn also earned seven World Championship medals across her career. Her Olympic performances added to her status as a historic American skier, with medals in the 2010 Vancouver and 2018 Pyeongchang Games.
Throughout her competitive years, Vonn was known for her speed and consistency in downhill events. She set the standard for U.S. alpine skiing athletes, maintaining a top position in international rankings for more than a decade. Her achievements remained unmatched in the history of American skiing upon her retirement.
Vonn’s career achievements were recognized by her induction into sports halls of fame, and she became a role model for aspiring skiers worldwide. Her success contributed to a higher profile for women’s alpine skiing and the growth of the sport in the United States.
