"I cried for a long time"- Lindsey Vonn opens up on hearing coach's heartbreaking confession ahead of her Olympic debut

Lindsey Vonn opened up on listening to her coach's confession ahead of the 2002 Winter Olympics which had a profound impact on her. The former Alpine skier revealed how she cried for a long time when she overheard her coaches speak about her not being good enough to compete at the Olympics as a 16-year-old.

Vonn bid adieu to Alpine skiing in 2019 after competing in the sport professionally for over 15 years. The American skier went on to set multiple records and win four World Cup overall titles etching her name in the list of the greats in the sport. Despite struggling with injuries recurrently, Lindsey Vonn made stronger comebacks to dominate the circuit.

Speaking about challenges with LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky, Lindsey Vonn recalled an incident from the early days of her career, where she overheard her coaches discussing her participation at the 2002 Winter Olympics. The 39-year-old revealed how she overcame the challenge of facing self-doubt and eventually making her Olympic debut as a 16-year-old proving her coaches wrong.

"It was really hard to hear that. I cried for a long time and you, know it's like you hear someone essentially telling you you're not good enough. I was 16 years old, it was the year of the 2002 Olympics and I just overheard them basically saying we're going to pick this other athlete over you, and that I didn't have what it took and it was devastating and at the same time, I kind of gritted my teeth and I said, ‘that's not true. I'm going to change their opinion," she said.

“I think that drove me for a long time, not just in that season, but it was something that I kind of put in the memory bank and I pocketed. And I used that whenever I felt like I was missing that motivation,” Vonn added.

Lindsey Vonn on overcoming major setbacks in her life

Lindsey Vonn at the 2023 US Open (Image Source: Getty)

Lindsey Vonn spoke about overcoming setbacks in her life in an interview with Time Magazine. The Star Alpine skier revealed how she was inspired by her mother to inculcate a never-give-up attitude.

"No matter what obstacle or setback you face, if you continue to work hard and don’t give up, you can overcome anything. My mom had a stroke when she gave birth to me. I feel like all of my injuries are nothing compared to what she’s had to go through. It could be a lot worse, and my mother never complains. So, I just shut my mouth and I keep working," she said.

Earlier this year, Vonn went under the knife once again to have a partial knee replacement surgery to find a permanent solution for her recurring knee issues. She quickly channeled her energy towards her rehab and got back to the gym showcasing her never-give-up mentality.