Lindsey Vonn's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Lindsey Vonn. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

Lindsey Vonn is a highly decorated American alpine ski racer, renowned for her exceptional achievements in the sport. She secured four World Cup overall championships in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012. A defining moment in her career was winning the gold medal in downhill at the 2010 Winter Olympics, marking a historic first for an American woman. Vonn dominated the World Cup circuit, achieving a record eight season titles in downhill, five in super-G, and three consecutive titles in the combined (2010–2012). In 2016, she surpassed Ingemar Stenmark to claim her 20th World Cup crystal globe title, setting an overall record for both men and women. She holds the third highest super ranking among all skiers.

Sections (5)

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

1999: Cadets Slalom Events Winner

In 1999, Kildow and Will McDonald won the "Cadets" slalom events in Italy's Trofeo Topolino di Sci Alpino.

March 4, 2003: Junior World Championship Silver Medal

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

March 24, 2004: Downhill 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 Victory

In December 2004, she captured her maiden victory in downhill at Lake Louise, Alberta.

February 13, 2006: Downhill Training Run Crash

On February 13, 2006, Kildow crashed during the second training run for the downhill race in San Sicario, Italy, at her second Winter Olympics. She was evacuated by helicopter to Turin, hospitalized overnight and earned the U.S. Olympic Spirit Award.

2007: World Championships Silver Medals

In 2007, Kildow earned her first "big race" medals with silver in both downhill and super-G at the World Championships in Åre, Sweden.

2008: World Cup Overall Championship Title

In 2008, Lindsey Vonn won her first World Cup overall championship title.

2008: Overall World Cup Title

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

October 2009: Skieur d'Or Award

In October 2009, Vonn was awarded the Skieur d'Or Award by the International Association of Ski Journalists.

2009: World Championship Gold Medals

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

2009: World Cup Overall Championship Title

In 2009, Lindsey Vonn secured her second World Cup overall championship.

2010: World Cup Overall Championship & Olympic Gold

In 2010, Lindsey Vonn won her third World Cup overall championship and the gold medal in downhill at the Winter Olympics, the first for an American woman.

2010: Awards and Titles

In 2010, Vonn was named Colorado Athlete of the Year, clinched her second straight super-G discipline title, won the overall title, discipline titles in downhill, super-G and combined and was also named by the Associated Press as 2010 Female Athlete of the Year.

2010: 2010 Winter Olympics Gold Medal

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

2011: Lake Louise Wins

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: Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year

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

2011: World Championship Silver Medals

In 2011, Lindsey Vonn won three silver medals in world championships.

January 2012: Third Most Successful Female World Cup Racer

With victories in January 2012, Lindsey Vonn overtook Götschl to become the third most successful female World Cup racer in terms of victories.

2012: World Cup Overall Championship Title

In 2012, Lindsey Vonn secured her fourth World Cup overall championship title.

2012: Fourth Overall World Cup Title

Lindsey Vonn won her fourth Overall World Cup Title in 2012, becoming the 6th woman to have won all events at least once.

2013: Marginal Results and Lake Louise Wins

In 2013, Lindsey Vonn had a slow start to the season, affected by illness and had marginal results in giant slalom and skipped some slalom races. She recovered quickly in speed events, winning all three races in Lake Louise, Alberta between November 30 and December 2, for her third career 'hat trick,' increasing her record for most career wins at a single resort to 14. With three wins, she moved past Vreni Schneider into second place all-time among women with 56 career wins, behind Annemarie Moser-Pröll with 62.

2013: World Cup Season Title

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

December 6, 2014: World Cup Downhill Victory

On December 6, 2014, Lindsey Vonn made a comeback to the top of the podium, winning the women's World Cup downhill race at Lake Louise, Alberta in only her second race back.

2014: Vonn's Olympic Readiness

Lindsey Vonn announced in 2013, following her injury at the World Championships, that she would be ready for the 2014 Winter Olympics.

January 2015: Ties and overtakes Moser-Proell for World Cup wins

In January 2015, Lindsey Vonn tied and then overtook Austrian Annemarie Moser-Proell for the most World Cup wins ever.

2015: World Cup Season Titles

In 2015, Lindsey Vonn secured World Cup season titles in the downhill and super-G disciplines.

2016: 20th World Cup Crystal Globe Title

In 2016, Lindsey Vonn won her 20th World Cup crystal globe title, surpassing Ingemar Stenmark's record.

February 10, 2019: Winning Bronze Medal

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.

November 14, 2024: Announcement of Return to Competitive Skiing

On November 14, 2024, Lindsey Vonn announced her return to competitive skiing after undergoing successful knee replacement surgery seven months prior.

December 21, 2024: World Cup Comeback

On December 21, 2024, Lindsey Vonn made her comeback to the World Cup in St. Moritz, Switzerland, finishing 14th in the Super-G.

March 23, 2025: World Cup Podium

On March 23, 2025, Lindsey Vonn attained her first World Cup podium in seven years when she came second in the super-G at the season finals in Sun Valley, Idaho.

December 12, 2025: Oldest Downhill Winner

On December 12, 2025, Lindsey Vonn became the oldest downhill skiing World Cup winner in St. Moritz, at the age of 41, claiming her 83rd World Cup win and first since 2018.

February 3, 2026: Intention to Compete Despite Injury

On February 3, 2026, Lindsey Vonn confirmed she had ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) but announced her intention to compete at the Olympics despite the injury sustained just a week before.