The Olympic medalist is reflecting on the impact her late mother had on her success on the slopes

Lindsey Vonn is looking back on the impact her late mother had on her success as a skier.

During an appearance on an upcoming episode of Getting Grilled with Curtis Stone, which debuts March 3 on HSN+, the Olympic medalist reflects on the guilt she has always felt related to her mother Lindy Lund’s health.

“My mom had a stroke when she had me and she was permanently disabled,” Vonn, 39, tells Stone. “And she couldn’t run, she couldn’t ever ski with me, she couldn’t ride a bike, and so in my mind, I’m sitting here thinking I’m doing what I love to do.”

She continues, “My mother can’t, so why should I sit here and be Debbie Downer? I need to get my a– back in the gym and back to the slopes and continue to do what I love to do and utilize that opportunity I’ve been given.”

Vonn says that she has always viewed her mother — who was an “amazing athlete” before suffering the stroke — as an inspiration and that she has an “obligation” to achieve her best.

“It is something that is hard for me to process because I always felt really guilty,” Vonn tells the chef and TV personality when asked how her mother’s health drove the athlete. “My mom — having me, hurt my mother and so that was a really hard thing for me to take on and I always felt guilty.”

She continues, “It’s hard that she’s not here. It’s still something I feel so guilty about, but I think it drove me and it helped me and she wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Lund died in August 2022, one year after being diagnosed with ALS.

Amid her battle with the disease, Vonn penned an emotional tribute to her mother and her fight, one month before she died.

“Since having a stroke while giving birth to me, my Mom has been the picture of strength and more specifically, resilience,” the four-time Olympic skier wrote alongside a gallery of pictures of herself and Lund.

Vonn added, “She has always given me the will to keep fighting back whenever I had an injury or obstacle in skiing and in life. Now she is exuding that resilience more than ever before.”

In addition to talking about her mom, Vonn recounts the peaks, valleys and highlights of her career, from winning Olympic gold to undergoing knee surgeries. Plus, the two head into the kitchen to make one of the skier’s favorite foods.

Lindsey Vonn recently returned to Vancouver for the first time after the 2010 Winter Olympics. Coming back to Whistler after over a decade led to a moment of nostalgia for the former Alpine skiing star.

The American made her World Cup debut at the age of 16. She participated in the World Cup held in Park City, Utah, in November 2000 as part of the United States Alpine skiing team.

In 2018, Lindsey announced that she would be retiring after the 2019 season. The 2019 World Championships, held in Sweden, was her final campaign as a professional skier. She bid farewell to the sport with a bronze medal in the women’s downhill event.

Post her retirement from the sport, Vonn has been very active on her social media handles. She shares regular updates on her life as well as interacts with her fans. Moreover, she is seen at many sporting events and was recently spotted at the Superbowl.

Lindsey Vonn took to X (formerly Twitter) to reveal a moment of nostalgia for her fans. She was back in Whistler, a resort in British Columbia. This was the first time she returned there after the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010.

While mentioning the ‘amazing’ times she spent there in the past, a moment of realization came to Vonn that it had been 14 years since she last visited the place.

First time back to Whistler since the Olympics in 2010! Was amazing to be there but man, time flies!!,” she wrote.

First time back to Whistler 🇨🇦🥇since the Olympics in 2010! Was amazing to be there but man, time flies!! pic.twitter.com/jIC4RWOxAO

— lindsey vonn (@lindseyvonn) February 25, 2024

A brief look into Lindsey Vonn’s career

Lindsey Vonn’s father was a former national junior title winning skier, due to which she had the opportunity to get into the sport pretty early on. However, Lindsey was taught to ski by her grandfather.

Lindsey made her skiing World Cup debut at the age of 16 and marched on to the Olympics, debuting there at the age of 17 at the 2002 Winter Olympics, where she competed in the slalom and combined.

The 39-year-old won her first major race at the World Championships in 2007, held in Are, Sweden. The following year, she went on to win the overall title at the 2008 World Cup, becoming the second American woman to achieve this feat.

Vonn continued her momentum in the 2009 season as well, winning the overall title at the World Cup. She clinched her first World Championship title in 2009, registering her name in the history books by becoming the first American woman to win a super-G title.

Over the years, Lindsey put forward stellar performances and went on to achieve feats to be among the greats of the sport. Throughout her career, she clinched four overall World Cup titles, of which three were consecutive (2008-10, 2012).

In an age where women are given equal rights and respect, there are still those burdened by the old ways. While they may not express themselves due to various reasons, it does not mean that they have lost their desire to chase their dreams. Alpine skiing athlete, Lindsey Vonn, who is considered the most decorated alpine skier in the United States, is an example of a woman who achieved her dream.

Lindsey often spoke out against sexism, body shaming, and unfair remuneration while active. However, she thought that was not enough, so she formed the Lindsey Vonn Foundation in 2010. Her Instagram threads post requested assistance.

Alpine skiing legend empowering disadvantaged girls on Giving Tuesday
She asked the world to give to disadvantaged girls in a thread post. Why publish this when her foundation is about it? The reason was the celebration of Giving Tuesday on November 28th. Globally, Giving Tuesday celebrates charity. She made a post on how the day motivates people to give and assist. “Please Join Me“ was the caption she used for her post.

Her non-profit organization has a great history of helping out many girls who needed help to prosper in the world. Some of the core programs that her organization offers are “The StrongGirls Scholarship,” “The StrongGirls Mentorship Program,” and “The StrongGirls Leadership Institute.” Through reaching out and helping more than 100,000 girls through its programming, her foundation has raised more than 1 million dollars in scholarships. Her foundation has received many awards, including the ESPN Sports Humanitarian of the Year award, among many others.

Lindsey Vonn’s empowerment journey
Athlete Lindsey Vonn has inspired many, both in alpine skiing and beyond. The reason for this is her unwavering drive and self-control have served as an inspiration to her mates, proving that anything is possible. Her hardships as an athlete were the driving force behind her desire to assist other women. Her instructors, for example, would tell her she needed to lose weight because she was “too muscular,” and she would also be the target of sexist remarks.

An inspiration to many, Lindsey Vonn is a legendary name in alpine skiing. She has fought for gender equality while having to overcome discrimination and body shaming. On Giving Tuesday, she exemplifies her commitment to elevating women internationally by urging assistance for neglected girls via her organization.

This International Mother’s Day everyone, including athletes, was busy paying tribute to their wonderful mothers. However, it was a bittersweet feeling for Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn. Bitter since Vonn lost her mother in August 2022, and sweet since she still has her memories attached to her. The alpine skier recently remembered her mother in a heartfelt post.

Lindsey Vonn is still reeling over the loss of her mother Linda Krohn, and is celebrating this Mother’s Day for the first time in her absence. Her heartbreaking post about her mother is a reminder of how much she misses her.

Lindsey Vonn is still reeling from her mother’s demise
Lindsey Vonn recently took to her Instagram and wrote, “Everyone is posting beautiful things about their mothers today… and I could tell you all the ways my Mother was amazing….but today is just hard… and I just miss her”. Alongside her post, Vonn attached a picture, blank on its exterior, with just the words “I miss you Mom” written on it.

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The imageless and void picture was enough to express Vonn’s feelings on this day. While she is immensely proud to have had a mother like that, she is also equally upset and unfortunate to not have her by her side on this day, and every other day. Vonn’s mother, Linda Krohn, died of ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a neurological disease that affects the motor neurons of a select few people.

The disease, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is pretty rare in its occurrence with only 5.2 people per 100,000 people getting affected by it. The disease came into the massive limelight when the ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ spread worldwide in the last decade. Linda Krohn suffered from it for a year before she passed away.

Vonn’s early years with her mother
Lindsey Vonn started alpine skiing as early as she was 2 years old, and although her father pushed her into the sport, it was her mother who supported her throughout her life. However, Vonn also stated to New York Times in 2010, that her mother Linda Krohn didn’t understand her sport of choice early on. It was also because Krohn suffered a stroke while giving birth to Vonn, that gave a minor paralysis to her left leg. She said to NYT, “I couldn’t get up to the mountain to see her race”.

She also recalled, “Seventy-five percent of the people die from the stroke I had”, but Krohn lived. Unfortunately, she dies from a different disease i.e. ALS, years later. Her passing hit Vonn extremely hard, and it was further exacerbated when just months later, her friend and fellow skier Felix Neurether’s mother passed away too. This Mother’s Day and every next one following it, Vonn will miss her mother terribly. But at least she will always have her memories with her.

The 2024 Paris Olympics are knocking at the door of every athlete. Some are practicing way harder than before, while others are taking the opportunity to show their gratitude towards their loved ones. The daunting ski star Lindsey Vonn has delivered a remarkable journey over a long time. She carries the weight of a bittersweet memory revolving around her mother, that has become synonymous with her achievement in the big games.

Vonn has been through an emotional landscape since 2022, when her mother, Linda Krohn, passed away after a long battle with ALS. Despite having to feel an ache from her mother’s absence lingering around her heart, she always tries to gather words and portray her love for her on social media.

Lindsey Vonn tearfully remembers an Olympic achievement
Recently, she posted a video of her performing in the mountains on the same day a year ago on her Instagram. Vonn not only remembered the days of her previous Olympics but also dedicated a tribute message to her mother. The post was captioned with very long paragraphs filled with her admiration towards her mother: “On this day… many many years ago now👵🏻🤦🏼‍♀️… I won the Olympics and it changed my life forever. “

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The day holds a milestone in her skiing career, and she was happy to share the celebration with her mother. Vonn re-visited the memories through the heartwarming caption, saying that she cherished the shared experience. Whether it is sinning together on the road trip or the sacrifices her family has made to support Vonn, she said, “My whole family sacrificed so much, but seeing my mom’s face, I know it was all worth it.”

Towards the end, she pleaded, thanked her for all the opportunities she got, and said, “I do know that time has made me appreciate life so much more.” She even added, “Just writing this caption has taken time because I keep crying. “ The beautiful and subtle music in the background of the video held more emotional ground for the video.

Tears of appreciation for a sacrificial love
This is not the first time she has chosen Instagram to share her emotions with her fans. Previously, the 37-year-old athlete shared another post about Krohn with the caption, “Since having a stroke while giving birth to me, my mom has been the picture of strength and, more specifically, resilience.”

In June 2022, she delivered a poignant speech at the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics Hall of Fame induction ceremony. There, she dedicated a tribute to her mother, stating her mother’s unwavering support and pivotal role in her life, which not only shaped her character but also her career. Last year, July 8 was marked as the first anniversary of her mother’s ALS diagnosis, and she took to social media to spread awareness for this deadly disease.