US ski great Lindsey Vonn announces ’emotionally challenging’ retirement decision after litany of injuries
US skier Lindsey Vonn has announced her retirement after a series of injuries, saying in a Facebook post “my body is screaming at me to STOP and it’s time for me to listen”.
Vonn is one of the greatest female skiers in the history of the sport, winning four world cup overall championships – one of only two female skiers to do so – and three Olympic medals including the downhill gold at the 2010 winter Olympics, a first for a US female skier.
Vonn posted that making the decision to retire had been “some of the most emotionally challenging days of my life”.
“I am struggling with the reality of what my body is telling me versus what my mind and heart believe I’m capable of. The unfortunate reality is my mind and body are not on the same page,” she wrote.
Vonn said that the downhill and super-G events in the world championships in Are, Sweden next week would be the last of her career.
“Over the past few years I have had more injuries and surgeries than I care to admit. I have always pushed the limits of ski racing and it has allowed me to have amazing success but also dramatic crashes,” Vonn wrote.
She said that a crash in November where she injured her left knee, tearing her lateral collateral ligament and sustaining three fractures was the final straw.
“Despite extensive therapy, training and a knee brace, I am not able make the turns necessary to compete the way I know I can. My body is broken beyond repair and it isn't letting me have the final season I dreamed of. My body is screaming at me to STOP and it’s time for me to listen,” she wrote.
Vonn said she had wanted to continue to compete and left the sport with unfinished business.
However, she said that despite some regrets, she was proud of her career and her accomplishments.
“I have accomplished something that no other woman in HISTORY has ever done, and that is something that I will be proud of FOREVER!” She wrote,
Tennis great Billie Jean King paid tribute to Vonn on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/BillieJeanKing/status/1091416630486290438
British Olympic skier Chemmy Alcott also paid tribute calling Vonn “the greatest female ski racer of all time”.
https://twitter.com/ChemmySki/status/1091405153306062848