"My dad told me no one ever made money off of ski racing" - Lindsey Vonn weighs in on her 'more than an athlete' personality

Retired US Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn has revealed how her father's constructive advice about alpine skiing motivated her to work hard and make a name for herself both in the sport and beyond. Vonn retired with three Olympic medals and a record number of World Cup race victories.

Despite her immense success on the snowy slopes, Vonn shared in an interview with The Path hosted by LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky that her father advised her that a career in skiing may not be financially rewarding, so she had to develop additional skills to become financially independent.

More so, the 30-year-old American icon has invested in various ventures, including professional women's sports teams, business ventures like alternative meat options, and AI-based fitness apps, establishing herself as one of the most successful athlete entrepreneurs.

"My dad told me when I was very young that no one ever made any money off of ski racing, so I had to be more than an athlete," Vonn said.

Vonn is regarded as one of the most accomplished winter athletes, having competed in alpine skiing for 15 years. She started her skiing journey in Minnesota at the age of three under the guidance of her father Alan Kildow and grandfather Don Kildow, a Korean War veteran and a skier himself. By the time she turned nine, she had already participated in her first international competition, followed by becoming an Olympian at the age of 17 in 2002.

Her major Olympic success came at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, where she earned a bronze in Super-G and a gold medal in the downhill event. Her victory in the downhill marked the first ever Olympic gold for the United States in that event. Additionally, Vonn also won a bronze medal in downhill at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, which turned out to be her last Winter Games appearance.

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"Power is in your own hands" - Lindsey Vonn reveals her passion for alpine skiing

Lindsey Vonn pictured at the Minnesota Lynx v Los Angeles Sparks (Source: Getty)

During her conversation with Sharp Magazine in February, Lindsey Vonn shared that having control over winning and losing is what makes the sport so empowering. She said:

"Skiing is an individual sport, so when you’re in the starting gate, no one’s helping you. You’re skiing down the mountain by yourself, and you’re 100% responsible for the outcome. I think knowing that win or lose, you hold the power in your own hands, is really empowering."

Lindsey Vonn retired from alpine skiing after securing a bronze medal at the 2019 World Championship in Åre, Sweden.