FILTER
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Lindsey Vonn, America's Sweetheart Going For Gold
- Author: Min-Q Kim
- Posted on: Friday February 5, 2010 at 9:00 AM
- Filed under: sports, lindsey vonn, alpine skiing, downhill skiing, ski, olympics, exclusive
Starting February 12th, the greatest athletes in the world descend upon the Winter Games in Vancouver, carrying dreams of Olympic glory and the flags of their respective nations. Whether you saw the cover of Sports Illustrated last week or not, you've probably heard that the #1 medal contender is 25-year old Colorado US contender, Lindsey Vonn, who has dominated alpine ski racing for the better part of two years. She comes into the Olympics having won back-to-back overall World Cup Championships ('08, '09), and is considered a legitimate five-medal threat at these games.
Lindsey took some time out of her busy training schedule to answer a few questions, including her thoughts on the upcoming games, her grueling workout schedule, and who would win in a race between a skier and a snowboarder. (PS she's a Justin fan!)
Photo: Under Armour
JT.COM: I’ve heard you say that your ultimate goal is to put skiing on the map here in the U.S. I’d have to assume these Olympics are a big moment towards that – do you kind of get that sense? Or you try not to think about it.
LINDSEY: I am really excited for the potential of this Olympics to help get Americans more excited about skiing. The fact that the event is in North America, that alone I think helps since people can watch more events live and just feel like it's close to them. I think a good deal of the alpine events will be shown on prime time tv. We have a strong team on both the men and women's side, so hopefully people will get inspired and want to ski themselves.
JT.COM: You’re already the most decorated skier in U.S. history. I hear you spend 6 to 8 hours in the gym every day. For those of us who struggle to make it once a month, what is the one thought that runs through your head that motivates you to keep at it that extra 10 minutes?
LINDSEY: I set goals for each day - it's easier to achieve a concrete smaller goal, like "I will bike for a certain number of minutes today," instead of a more lofty goal like "I will get fit this year." Also, personally, I just want to feel like I've worked the hardest, so if I know my competitors are spending a certain amount of time training, then I'm going to do it just a bit longer and harder.
Lindsey's commitment to her craft includes 6-8 hours a day in the gym. (Photos by Drew Gardner /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)
JT.COM: What other sports do you enjoy watching? Favorite players / teams?
LINDSEY: My favorite sport to watch is definitely tennis. I am a huge Federer fan. I got to go to the French Open and Wimbledon last year, it was amazing!
JT.COM: I read that Bode Miller is making a run at the Tennis US Open... Are you next?
LINDSEY: No I am definitely not good enough for that, but maybe if Federer starts giving me lessons! haha
JT.COM: You've said that tennis actually does help you with your skiing – specifically your agility and hand-eye coordination. So sell your sport a little bit: what athletes in other sports might benefit from downhill skiing?
LINDSEY: Skiing builds agility, core strength, and balance. If you want strong legs and great abs - be a skier. I think most athletes could benefit from crosstraining with skiing. Also, it is a great family sport that everyone can do together.
JT.COM: Do skiers and snowboarders have a little rivalry going on, or is it more camaraderie? I must apologize, when it comes to Winter outings, I’m more of a cabin-dweller, so maybe this is a stupid question, but… Who goes faster: skiers or snowboarders?
LINDSEY: Yeah maybe a little bit of a rivalry but it is all in good fun. Well it depends on the skier and the snowboarder I guess, but if you put the fastest skier and fastest snowboarder in the world against each other in a downhill race, my money would be on the skier.
Photo: (c)Erich Spiess/Red Bull Photofiles
JT.COM: You speak German! Rosetta Stone?
LINDSEY: Haha no, good old German lessons. We spend most of the year in and around Austria and I hate not being able to communicate with people, especially my fans. So I really worked hard with tutors provided to me by Redbull and now I am pretty fluent.
JT.COM: I’ve always wondered of world-class athletes – when you’re skiing recreationally (i.e. not training or competing), do you still gun it down the mountain? Or do you really pull up and take your time… enjoy the scenery a little bit?
LINDSEY: Especially in the past year or two I haven't had a ton of time to free ski, almost every day is either training or traveling. On a rare occasion Vonn and I (Vonn is my husband) might have a fun run down the hill, but I'll still gun it!
JT.COM: I’m told you are a Justin Timberlake fan, which will endear you to our readers. Who else do you listen to? What’s on the workout mix? What plays when you’re just hangin?
LINDSEY: I am a huge Justin fan! I listen to his music when I workout all the time. I also listen to Beyonce, T.I., Lil' Wayne, Lady Gaga, David Guetta, Kid Cudi... pretty much a mix of hip hop and pop. I love the last Jay Z album... But as far as Justin, you know...if you ever need a ski lesson you know who to call!
Photo: ASP/Red Bull
A huge thank you to Lindsey for her time. Make sure to tune in and watch as she makes her run at Olympic gold. For those of you who live in the States, you can catch all the action on NBC.
Go get 'em Lindsey. We'll be rooting for you!
**UPDATE: In a press meeting on Wednesday, Feb 10th, Lindsey Vonn announced she has injured her knee during training and may not be able to compete. She described the injury as “bleeding of the muscle, a major contusion.” When asked if missing the entire competition was a possibility, Vonn said: “Yeah, that’s a possibility.” We got your back Lindsey. Best of Luck! (Via Calgary Herald.)
Like I Love You
“They fixed the lyrics ;-) I imagine that you would feel that way if you met the one, as opposed to all these whores that are taking advantage of belonging to the entertainment class. There is nothing like the feeling of defeating the class system!”
- SumitaShaq Curates Art Exhibition Called Size DOES Matter
“haha imagine getting a hug from a person wearing picture 2”
- TinaalcShaq Curates Art Exhibition Called Size DOES Matter
“Love the elevator one and glass one!”
- dawskimCanada's Olympic Moment
“I am so proud of canada. I myself am trying to get karate declared as an olympic sport and hopefully have a chance to compete in 2012.”
- SumitaInterview: Travis Rice On His New Art Gallery Asymbol
“my best friend is you ...”
- Hitboy