History of Lindsey Vonn in Timeline

Lindsey Vonn is a decorated American World Cup alpine ski racer, renowned for her exceptional achievements. She secured four World Cup overall championships, placing her among the top female skiers alongside Annemarie Moser-Pröll and Mikaela Shiffrin. Notably, she achieved three consecutive titles from 2008 to 2010, and another in 2012. Vonn made history by winning the gold medal in downhill at the 2010 Winter Olympics, a first for an American woman. She also holds a record eight World Cup season titles in downhill, five in super-G, and three consecutive titles in the combined (2010–2012). In 2016, Vonn surpassed Ingemar Stenmark to achieve a record 20 World Cup crystal globe titles. She holds the third-highest super ranking of all skiers, male or female.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1975: Ingemar Stenmark's First Globe

In 1975, Ingemar Stenmark started his streak of winning 19 globes, a record surpassed by Lindsey Vonn in 2016.

1982: Phil Mahre's Single-Season Record

In 1982, Phil Mahre set an American single-season record with eight World Cup wins, which Vonn surpassed in 2009.

1983: Tamara McKinney's World Cup Title

In 1983, Tamara McKinney won the World Cup title, preceding Lindsey Vonn's victory in 2008.

October 18, 1984: Lindsey Vonn's Birth

On October 18, 1984, Lindsey Caroline Vonn (née Kildow) was born. She later became a celebrated American World Cup alpine ski racer.

Others born on this day/year

1994: Hilary Lindh's Downhill Win

In 1994, Hilary Lindh won the downhill in Vail, marking the last home win by an American woman until Vonn's victory in 2011.

1999: First American Athletes to Win "Cadets" slalom

In 1999, Kildow and Will McDonald became the first American athletes to win the "Cadets" slalom events in Italy's Trofeo Topolino di Sci Alpino.

1999: Street's Marvel at Kildow's Skiing

In 1999, Picabo Street watched Kildow ski for the first time, marveling at her knack for following the fall line.

November 18, 2000: World Cup Debut

On November 18, 2000, at the age of 16, Kildow made her World Cup debut in Park City, Utah.

2002: Lindsey Kildow Participates in the 2002 Olympics

In 2002, Lindsey Kildow participated in the Olympics and married fellow 2002 Olympian Thomas Vonn on September 29, 2007

2002: Olympic Debut

In 2002, at the age of 17, Kildow made her Olympic debut at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, racing in both slalom and combined, with her best result being sixth in combined.

March 4, 2003: Junior World Championship Silver Medal

On March 4, 2003, she earned a silver medal in downhill in the Junior World Championship at Puy Saint-Vincent, France.

January 2004: First World Cup Podium Finish

In January 2004, Kildow achieved her first World Cup podium finish with a third-place finish in downhill at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

March 24, 2004: U.S. Alpine Championships Silver Medal

On March 24, 2004, Kildow won the downhill silver medal at the U.S. Alpine Championships at Mt. Alyeska Resort, Girdwood, Alaska.

December 2004: Maiden World Cup Victory

In December 2004, Kildow secured her maiden World Cup victory in downhill at Lake Louise, Alberta.

2005: First World Championships

In 2005, Lindsey Vonn competed in four races at her first World Championships held in Bormio, Italy. She achieved fourth-place finishes in both the downhill and the combined.

2005: Vonn Wins a Pregnant Cow

In 2005, after winning the downhill at Val d'Isère, Lindsey Vonn was offered a pregnant Tarine cow. She chose to keep it and named it Olympe, arranging for a farmer in Austria to care for it.

February 13, 2006: Crash at the Winter Olympics

On February 13, 2006, during the second training run for the downhill race at the Winter Olympics in San Sicario, Italy, Kildow crashed and was hospitalized overnight. Despite the injury, she competed and finished eighth, earning the U.S. Olympic Spirit Award.

September 29, 2007: Lindsey Kildow Marries Thomas Vonn

On September 29, 2007, Lindsey Kildow married fellow 2002 Olympian and former U.S. Ski Team athlete Thomas Vonn at the Silver Lake Lodge in Deer Valley, Utah.

2007: World Championships Silver Medals and ACL Sprain

In 2007, Kildow earned silver medals in both downhill and super-G at the World Championships. She also suffered an ACL sprain, ending her season early.

2007: World Championship Silver Medals

In 2007, Lindsey Vonn won silver medals at the World Championships.

2008: First World Cup Overall Championship

In 2008, Lindsey Vonn won her first World Cup overall championship, making her the second American woman to achieve this feat, following Tamara McKinney in 1983. She also secured the World Cup season title in downhill and the U.S. Alpine Championships combined title, marking her best ski season to date.

2008: Overall World Cup Title

In 2008, Lindsey Vonn won the overall World Cup title, becoming the second American woman to do so.

October 2009: Skieur d'Or Award

In October 2009, Lindsey Vonn was awarded the Skieur d'Or Award for her performances during the previous season.

December 2009: Bruised Arm Injury

In December 2009, Lindsey Vonn sustained a bruised arm after a crash during the opening run of the World Cup giant slalom.

2009: Second World Cup Overall Championship

In 2009, Lindsey Vonn secured her second consecutive World Cup overall championship, along with the downhill title and the super-G season championship. She also broke Tamara McKinney's American record with her 18th World Cup victory.

2009: Vonn Wins a Goat

In 2009, Lindsey Vonn won a goat, which she gave to a farmer in Austria.

2009: World Championship Gold Medals

In 2009, Lindsey Vonn won two World Championship gold medals.

2010: Vancouver Winter Olympics Gold Medal

At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Lindsey Vonn won the gold medal in the downhill, becoming the first American woman to achieve this feat.

2010: Vonn Appears in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition

In 2010, Lindsey Vonn appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, which featured Olympians from the 2010 Winter Olympics. She also ranked 59th in Maxim's Hot 100 list that year.

2010: Colorado Athlete of the Year and World Cup Titles

In 2010, Lindsey Vonn was named Colorado Athlete of the Year for 2009. She won her second straight super-G discipline title, the overall title, and discipline titles in downhill, super-G, and combined.

2010: Third World Cup Overall Championship

In 2010, Lindsey Vonn won her third consecutive World Cup overall title, along with discipline titles in downhill, super-G, and combined. She surpassed Bode Miller for the most World Cup victories by an American and was named Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year.

November 2011: Lindsey and Thomas Vonn Announce Divorce

In November 2011, after four years of marriage, Lindsey Vonn and Thomas Vonn announced they would divorce.

2011: Wins in Lake Louise

From December 2-4, 2011, Lindsey Vonn won all three races in Lake Louise, Alberta and with her eleventh win at Lake Louise she surpassed Renate Götschl's record for most career wins at a single resort.

2011: Competition with Maria Riesch and World Championships

In 2011, Lindsey Vonn faced competition from Maria Riesch and suffered a concussion during training for the World Championships in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. She achieved a seventh place in super-G and a silver medal in downhill.

2011: Laureus Award and USOC Sportswoman of the Year

In 2011, Lindsey Vonn received the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award and was named the United States Olympic Committee's sportswoman of the year.

2011: World Cup Finals

In 2011, Lindsey Vonn took overall lead after downhill event of the World Cup finals in Lenzerheide but Riesch regained the overall lead after the slalom by 3 points.

2011: World Championship Silver Medals

In 2011, Lindsey Vonn won silver medals at the World Championships.

January 2012: 50th World Cup Victory

In January 2012, Lindsey Vonn achieved her fiftieth World Cup victory and surpassed Götschl for second most career DH wins.

November 2012: Slow Start to Season

In November 2012, Lindsey Vonn got off to a slow start in the 2013 season due to illness and marginal results.

2012: Vonn Meets Tiger Woods

In 2012, Lindsey Vonn met golfer Tiger Woods at a charity event before dating him from March 2013 until splitting up in May 2015.

2012: Fourth World Cup Overall Championship

In 2012, Lindsey Vonn won her fourth Overall World Cup Title.

2012: Fourth Overall World Cup Title

In 2012, Vonn secured her fourth Overall World Cup Title and became the 6th woman to have won all events at least once.

January 9, 2013: Lindsey and Thomas Vonn Finalize Divorce

On January 9, 2013, the divorce between Lindsey Vonn and Thomas Vonn was finalized, after the couple announced they would divorce in November 2011 following four years of marriage.

March 2013: Vonn Begins Dating Tiger Woods

Lindsey Vonn began dating golfer Tiger Woods in March 2013 after meeting at a charity event in 2012.

November 20, 2013: Vonn Re-injures Knee During Training

On November 20, 2013, Lindsey Vonn re-injured her right knee during training, straining it and partially tearing her right ACL after a crash. She later returned to competition in December.

December 21, 2013: Vonn Re-Injures Knee While Skiing in France

On December 21, 2013, Lindsey Vonn re-injured her right knee while skiing in France, which ultimately led to her withdrawal from the 2014 Winter Olympics.

2013: Vonn Crashes at World Championships

During the 2013 World Championships in Schladming, Austria, Lindsey Vonn crashed in the super-G, resulting in a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a torn medial collateral ligament, and a tibial plateau fracture in her right knee. Despite the severity of the injury, Vonn expressed her determination to be ready for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

2013: Wins in Lake Louise

In 2013, Lindsey Vonn swept all three races in Lake Louise, increasing her record for most career wins at a single resort to 14 and moving her past Vreni Schneider into second place all-time among women.

2013: World Cup Season Downhill Title

In 2013, Lindsey Vonn won her eighth World Cup season title in the downhill discipline.

2013: Season Injury

Lindsey Vonn missed most of the 2013 season due to injuries.

January 7, 2014: Vonn Announces Withdrawal from 2014 Winter Olympics

On January 7, 2014, Lindsey Vonn announced she would not compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics because of a re-injury to her right knee on December 21, 2013. She expressed devastation and announced upcoming surgery in preparation for the World Championships.

December 6, 2014: Vonn Wins World Cup Downhill Race

On December 6, 2014, Lindsey Vonn made a comeback, winning the women's World Cup downhill race at Lake Louise, Alberta, marking her return to the top of the podium after her injury.

2014: Vonn Aims for 2014 Winter Olympics Return

Following her injury in 2013, Lindsey Vonn aimed to be ready for the 2014 Winter Olympics despite a torn ACL and MCL. Although she planned to compete in the 2014 Alpine Skiing World Cup, she ultimately decided not to compete during the first weekend.

2014: Vonn Plans Return to Competition

In 2014, Lindsey Vonn traveled to Austria for the Alpine Skiing World Cup but chose not to compete in the first weekend, planning her return for late November. She emphasized a cautious approach to racing in preparation for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

2014: Vonn Wins a Calf and Owns a Small Herd

In 2014, Lindsey Vonn won a calf in Val d'Isère, which she kept. By this time, she owned a small herd of cows on a farm.

2014: NBC News Correspondent

In 2014, while recovering from injury, Lindsey Vonn worked as a correspondent for NBC News, covering the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

January 2015: Vonn Overtakes Moser-Proell for World Cup Wins Record

In January 2015, Lindsey Vonn tied and then surpassed Austrian Annemarie Moser-Proell for the most World Cup wins ever, marking a significant milestone in her career.

March 18, 2015: Vonn Claims World Cup Downhill Title

On March 18, 2015, Lindsey Vonn won the last World Cup downhill race at Meribel, France, securing her seventh World Cup downhill title, tying with Moser-Proell for the women's record of seven globes in one discipline. She also achieved her 113th World Cup podium, tying Moser-Proell's women's record.

May 2015: Vonn and Woods Split Up

Lindsey Vonn and Tiger Woods ended their relationship in May 2015, after dating since March 2013.

2015: Vonn Wins Bronze at 2015 World Championships

At the 2015 World Championships in Vail / Beaver Creek, Colorado, Lindsey Vonn won a bronze medal in the super-G. She also placed 5th in the downhill race and 14th in the giant slalom race.

2015: World Cup Season Titles

In 2015, Lindsey Vonn won her eighth World Cup season title in the downhill discipline and her fifth title in super-G.

November 11, 2016: Vonn Fractures Arm in Training Crash

On November 11, 2016, Lindsey Vonn announced on her Facebook page that she had severely fractured the humerus bone of her right arm in a training crash and underwent surgery to repair the bone.

2016: 20th World Cup Crystal Globe Title

In 2016, Lindsey Vonn won her 20th World Cup crystal globe title, setting an overall record for both men and women and surpassing Ingemar Stenmark.

2016: Vonn Begins Dating Kenan Smith

In late 2016, Lindsey Vonn began dating NFL assistant coach Kenan Smith, before splitting in November 2017.

2016: Vonn Appears in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition Again

Lindsey Vonn appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition again in 2016, wearing only bodypaint.

January 15, 2017: Vonn Returns to World Cup After Injury

On January 15, 2017, Lindsey Vonn returned to the World Cup after recovering from a fractured arm, finishing 13th in the downhill race at Altenmarkt.

November 2017: Vonn Splits with Kenan Smith

In late 2016, Lindsey Vonn began dating NFL assistant coach Kenan Smith, before splitting in November 2017.

December 7, 2017: Vonn States She Won't Represent President Trump

On December 7, 2017, Lindsey Vonn stated in an interview that she would not represent President Donald Trump in the 2018 Winter Olympics and would not attend the White House reception if she won a gold medal, clarifying that she represents the people of the United States, not the leaders.

May 2018: Vonn Competes on Drop the Mic

On 6 May 2018, Lindsey Vonn appeared on the fourth episode of the second season of Drop the Mic, where she participated in a rap battle against Gus Kenworthy.

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June 2018: Vonn Starts Dating P. K. Subban

In June 2018, Lindsey Vonn started dating P. K. Subban, a defenseman in the NHL.

October 2018: Vonn Announces Retirement Plans

In October 2018, Lindsey Vonn announced that she would retire from competition at the end of the 2018-19 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup season, prioritizing her long-term physical health over breaking Ingemar Stenmark's record. She initially aimed to compete in all downhills and super-Gs, debuting at Lake Louise.

2018: Vonn Wins Bronze at 2018 Winter Olympics

At the 2018 Winter Olympics, Lindsey Vonn tied for 6th in women's super-G and won the bronze medal in women's downhill, dedicating her races to her grandfather, a Korean War veteran, who died the previous November. She competed with his initials on her helmet.

2018: Vonn Will Not Represent Trump in 2018 Winter Olympics

In December 2017, Lindsey Vonn stated she would not represent President Donald Trump in the 2018 Winter Olympics, clarifying that she would represent the people of the United States.

January 2019: Vonn Considers Immediate Retirement at Cortina d'Ampezzo

In January 2019, Lindsey Vonn made her season debut at Cortina d'Ampezzo, finishing 15th and 9th in the two downhills, but considered retiring immediately after failing to finish the super-G race.

February 10, 2019: Subban Watches Vonn Win Bronze

On February 10, 2019, P. K. Subban traveled to Åre, Sweden, to watch Lindsey Vonn win a bronze medal in the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Downhill.

August 23, 2019: Vonn and Subban Announce Engagement

On August 23, 2019, Lindsey Vonn and P. K. Subban announced their engagement.

December 2019: Vonn Proposes to Subban

In December 2019, Lindsey Vonn announced that she proposed to P.K. Subban, after Subban had proposed to Vonn on August 23, 2019.

2019: HBO Releases Documentary About Vonn

In 2019, HBO released a documentary about Lindsey Vonn entitled Lindsey Vonn: The Final Season, which covers her final World Championship season and her rise to fame.

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2019: Retirement Announcement

In 2019, Lindsey Vonn announced her retirement from competitive skiing, citing injuries.

2019: Vonn Poses for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition

In 2019, Lindsey Vonn posed for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition for the third time.

May 2020: Vonn and Subban Purchase Villa in Beverly Hills

In May 2020, Lindsey Vonn and P. K. Subban purchased a villa in Beverly Hills for $6.75 million.

July 2020: Vonn Seeks Opinions on Interracial Relationships

In July 2020, Lindsey Vonn asked her followers on Twitter for their opinions regarding interracial relationships.

October 21, 2020: Vonn and Subban Join Angel City FC Ownership

On October 21, 2020, Lindsey Vonn and P. K. Subban were announced as members of the ownership group of Angel City FC, a Los Angeles-based team set to start play in the National Women's Soccer League in 2022.

November 20, 2020: Vonn Hosts The Pack on Amazon Prime Video

On November 20, 2020, Lindsey Vonn hosted the canine reality competition series The Pack, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video, featuring her dog Lucy.

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2021: Vonn Dates Diego Osorio

Since 2021, Lindsey Vonn has been dating Diego Osorio, co-founder of tequila company Lobos 1707.

August 2022: Vonn's Mother, Linda Krohn, Passes Away

In August 2022, Lindsey Vonn's mother, Linda Krohn, passed away after battling ALS for a year.

2022: Angel City FC Start Playing

Lindsey Vonn and P. K. Subban were announced as members of the ownership group of Angel City FC, a Los Angeles-based team set to start play in the National Women's Soccer League in 2022.

January 2023: Vonn Skis the Streif

In January 2023, Lindsey Vonn became the first woman to ski the Streif, a challenging downhill course, although she did so on her own and not in a competitive setting.