Name: Lindsey Vonn
Age: 26
Sport: Alpine Skiing
Country: U.S.A.
www.lindseyvonn.com
Lindsey Vonn has become the darling of the alpine ski world. After claiming the overall title last season, Lindsey started the 2008-09 season as a fave, and she hasn't let anyone down. She shattered records to become the best women's skier in U.S. history, grabbing 16 podium finishes during World Cup events, including nine victories and two gold medals at the 2009 World Alpine Ski Championships, ending the season with the more prize money than any other alpine skier.
Breakdown
Lindsey was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and is the oldest of five kids. She started skiing at the age of two. Her first coach, Erich Sailer, encouraged her to find her own technique and learn how to ski as fast as she could. Lindsey was such a budding talent that, at the age of 10, her dad (Alan) mapped out her entire skiing career. Based on his daughter’s potential, he then moved the entire family to Vail, Colorado, so that she could ski on world-class slopes. The move paid off, and Lindsey became the first American female to win the Trofeo Topolino youth competition in Italy.
Lindsey went on to make her Olympic debut in 2002. She’s also won two overall World Cup titles (2008, 2009), two world championship titles and 25 World Cup victories. Heading into the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Lindsey is expected to grab the gold in alpine skiing.
Stats
Besides the prizes and medals mentioned above, Lindsey did suffer a scary sports moment at the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino. She crashed – big-time – during downhill training, and many people didn’t expect her to be able to compete at all. But Lindsey was released from the hospital in time to complete the race, despite the huge amount of pain she felt in her legs and back. She placed seventh overall – pretty good for someone with a recent injury!
DYK?
- Favorite Pet: Her cow, Olympe, who she won for placing first at the World Cup downhill in France.
- Second Favorite Pet: Laura, the goat she won for her two gold medals at Worlds.
- BFF & Closest Rival: German alpine skier Maria Riesch
- Most Famous Ski Buddy: Picabo Street
- Crush: Tennis star Roger Federer
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