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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: 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: 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.