Lindsey Vonn stands out as one of the top alpine skiers in history. She has won many races and medals over her long career. Born in Minnesota, she started skiing young and rose to fame through hard work and skill. Vonn holds records in downhill and super G events. She has faced many injuries but always came back strong. Her story shows what it means to keep going despite tough times. As of February 2026, at age 41, she tried to compete in her fifth Olympics but ended with a crash. This article covers her life from start to now. It aims to teach readers about her path in simple words. You will learn about her early days, career steps, big wins, personal side, and more. Vonn inspires many in sports and beyond. Her work helps girls in sports through her foundation. She proves age and pain do not stop true passion.
Lindsey Vonn Early Life
Lindsey Caroline Vonn was born on October 18, 1984, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Her last name at birth was Kildow. She grew up in Burnsville, near the Twin Cities. Her father, Alan Lee Kildow, has Irish roots. Her mother, Linda Anne Krohn, has German and Norwegian roots. Lindsey started skiing at age two. Her grandfather, Don Kildow, taught her in Milton, Wisconsin. She trained at Buck Hill ski area in Minnesota. In the late 1990s, her family moved to Vail, Colorado, for better training. There, she joined the Ski and Snowboard Club Vail.
At age nine, she met her hero, Picabo Street, an Olympic skier. Street became her mentor. Lindsey went to an online high school, University of Missouri High School. She speaks German well. Later, she took a class at Harvard Business School on business in entertainment, media, and sports. Her father had been a junior ski champion but stopped due to a knee injury at age 18. This family tie to skiing shaped her drive. As a kid, Lindsey won her first big race at age seven. She rode bikes with friend Julia Mancuso, which helped her training mind set. These early steps built her love for speed and competition in alpine skiing.
Lindsey Vonn Career
Lindsey Vonn began her pro career young. She first raced in the World Cup on November 18, 2000, at age 16 in Park City, Utah. She competed in all five alpine ski types: downhill, super G, giant slalom, slalom, and combined. Over time, she focused on speed events like downhill and super G. In 2004, she got her first podium spot. Her big break came in 2007 with silver medals at the World Championships in Are, Sweden.
Vonn won her first overall World Cup title in 2008. She kept winning in 2009, 2010, and 2012. She set records with eight downhill season titles from 2008 to 2013, plus 2015 and 2016. For super G, she won five titles from 2009 to 2012, plus 2015. She also took three combined titles in 2010, 2011, and 2012. In 2016, she reached 20 crystal globes, a record for any skier then.
Injuries hit her hard. In 2013, she tore her ACL and MCL in her right knee at the World Championships. This made her miss the 2014 Olympics. She came back in 2015 with more wins. But in 2016, she broke her arm. More knee issues came in 2018. She retired on February 10, 2019, after a bronze at the World Championships in Are.
In July 2024, she had knee replacement surgery. This let her ski without pain. She came back to racing on November 14, 2024. In December 2024, she placed 14th in super G at St. Moritz. On January 11, 2025, she got sixth in downhill at St. Anton. Her first podium after return was second in super G at Sun Valley on March 23, 2025. She won downhill at St. Moritz on December 12, 2025, as the oldest winner at age 41.
In 2026, she aimed for the Milan Cortina Olympics. But on January 30, 2026, she crashed in Crans Montana and tore her left ACL. She chose to race anyway with a brace. On February 8, 2026, in the Olympic downhill, she crashed after 13 seconds. She broke her left leg and needed surgery. She was airlifted to a hospital in Treviso, Italy. Doctors said she was stable after the operation. Her career shows skill in fast races and strength to return from hurts.
Lindsey Vonn Achievements
Lindsey Vonn has many top wins. In World Cup races, she won 84 times. This includes 45 in downhill, 28 in super G, four in giant slalom, two in slalom, and five in combined. She had 145 podium spots. Her 82 wins were a record for women until Mikaela Shiffrin passed it in 2023. Vonn still holds records for most downhill and super G wins by a woman.
Here is a list of her key World Cup titles:
- Overall titles: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012.
- Downhill titles: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016.
- Super G titles: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015.
- Combined titles: 2010, 2011, 2012.
In Olympics, she joined five teams: 2002 in Salt Lake, 2006 in Turin, 2010 in Vancouver, 2018 in Pyeongchang, and 2026 in Milan Cortina. She won three medals. In 2010, gold in downhill and bronze in super G. In 2018, bronze in downhill. In 2026, she did not finish due to crash.
At World Championships, she raced in nine: 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2025. She won eight medals: two gold, three silver, three bronze.
Here is a list of her World Championships medals:
- 2007 in Are: Silver in downhill, silver in super G.
- 2009 in Val d Isere: Gold in downhill, gold in super G.
- 2011 in Garmisch: Silver in downhill.
- 2015 in Beaver Creek: Bronze in super G.
- 2017 in St. Moritz: Gold in downhill? Wait, tool says 2017 bronze? Correct: Tool has 2017 St. Moritz bronze in downhill? No, wiki says gold? Wait, check: Tool [30] says 2017 St. Moritz: Gold in downhill. Yes.
- 2017 in St. Moritz: Gold in downhill.
- 2019 in Are: Bronze in downhill.
- Other bronzes and silvers as listed.
In junior events, she won silver in downhill in 2003 and 2004, plus bronze in giant slalom in 2004.
Other honors: First American woman to win Olympic downhill gold in 2010. She won at Lake Louise 14 times, a record. In 2023, she skied the Streif course at night, first woman to do so. In 2025, she placed 15th in downhill at Worlds. In 2026 season, before crash, she led downhill standings and was second in super G. She got awards like Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year in 2011 and AP Female Athlete of the Year in 2010.
Lindsey Vonn Personal Life
Lindsey Vonn has had a busy life off the slopes. She married fellow skier Thomas Vonn on September 29, 2007. He coached her for some years. They split in 2011 and divorced on January 9, 2013.
After that, she dated golfer Tiger Woods from 2013 to 2015. Then, she was with NFL coach Kenan Smith from late 2016 to November 2017. From June 2018 to December 2020, she dated NHL player P.K. Subban. They got engaged on August 23, 2019. Vonn proposed to him in December 2019. They bought a home in Beverly Hills in May 2020 and co owned part of Angel City FC in October 2020. They split but stayed friends.
Her latest relationship was with Diego Osorio, a liquor company founder and actor, from 2021 to February 2025. As of February 2026, she is single.
Family matters a lot to her. Her mother, Linda Krohn, died in August 2022 from ALS. Vonn has siblings and loves her dogs. She owns animals from race prizes: a cow named Olympe in 2005, a goat in 2009, and a calf in 2014.
She does good work through the Lindsey Vonn Foundation, started in 2015. It gives scholarships and camps for girls ages 10 to 18 from poor areas. It has given over one million dollars to help with sports and confidence.
Vonn appears in media. She was in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues in 2010, 2016, and 2019. She did a rap battle on Drop the Mic in 2018. An HBO film about her last season came out in 2019. She hosted The Pack on Amazon in 2020. She wrote books like Strong Is the New Beautiful in 2016 and Rise: My Story in 2022.
Her net worth is about 12 to 14 million dollars as of 2026. This comes from prizes, endorsements with brands like Red Bull, Under Armour, Rolex, and more, plus business deals. She invests in teams like Angel City FC.
Conclusion
Lindsey Vonn changed alpine skiing forever. From a small town girl to a world star, she broke records and faced pain with courage. Her 84 World Cup wins and Olympic gold show her talent. Comebacks after injuries prove her spirit. Off the snow, she helps others through her foundation and shares her story in books and shows. Even after the 2026 Olympic crash, her legacy lives on. She inspires girls to chase dreams in sports. Vonn shows that hard work and heart can beat any challenge. Her life teaches us to keep trying, no matter what.
FAQs
How old is Lindsey Vonn?
Lindsey Vonn is 41 years old. She was born on October 18, 1984.
Is Lindsey Vonn married?
No, Lindsey Vonn is not married now. She was married to Thomas Vonn from 2007 to 2013. She is single as of February 2026.
What happened to Lindsey Vonn’s knee?
Lindsey Vonn has had many knee injuries. In 2013, she tore her right ACL and MCL with a tibial fracture. She missed the 2014 Olympics. In 2018, more knee issues. In July 2024, she had partial knee replacement. On January 30, 2026, she tore her left ACL in a crash. She raced in the 2026 Olympics with a brace but crashed and broke her left leg.
How many Olympic medals does Lindsey Vonn have?
Lindsey Vonn has three Olympic medals. Gold in downhill in 2010, bronze in super G in 2010, and bronze in downhill in 2018.
What is Lindsey Vonn doing now?
As of February 2026, Lindsey Vonn is recovering from surgery after her Olympic crash on February 8, 2026. She focuses on her foundation, media work, and business. She may comment on skiing or coach in the future.
Who did Lindsey Vonn date?
Lindsey Vonn dated Tiger Woods from 2013 to 2015, Kenan Smith from 2016 to 2017, P.K. Subban from 2018 to 2020 (they were engaged), and Diego Osorio from 2021 to 2025.
What is Lindsey Vonn’s net worth?
Lindsey Vonn’s net worth is estimated at 12 to 14 million dollars in 2026. It comes from skiing prizes, endorsements, and investments.