BIOGRAPHY:
Known as the most successful female ski racer in American history, Lindsey Vonn is one of the few world-class four-event ski racers. She is the only American woman to have captured downhill gold at the Olympics and the only American woman with three World Cup overall titles. Six weeks after she turned 20, Vonn (then Kildow) produced her first World Cup victory in Lake Louise, Alberta. She has since captured a U.S. record 41 World Cup wins, including seven downhill victories in Lake Louise.  In addition to her 2010 Olympic downhill gold and super G bronze, she holds five World Championship medals, including two gold in 2009.

In 2011, Vonn produced one of the most thrilling comebacks in alpine history. After staring down a 216-point deficit in the overall standings to Maria Riesch just a month before the close of the season, Vonn stormed back to take the lead with two races remaining on the schedule. Still, in the final women's slalom, Riesch nabbed the lead back by three points (and .01 seconds) and ultimately captured her first overall title when the final race of the season—a giant slalom—was canceled in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. For Vonn and ski racing fans, it was like losing game seven of the World Series.

Despite the overall disappointment, Vonn was able to defend her super combined, downhill and super G titles over three consecutive days in Tarvisio, Italy. She also produced some of the most spectacular runs in women's ski racing history with amazingly athletic saves throughout the season.

"Ninety-nine percent of all athletes—male or female—would have been in the nets," said speed Head Coach Chip White of one incredible save in Lake Louise which kept her on the podium with second. "It's a true testament to her athleticism and hard work."

She was also able to secure the first World Cup giant slalom podium of her career, when it counted most, at the end of the year and kept it rolling by winning the opening giant slalom of the 2012 season to become the first female in American history to win in all five World Cup disciplines.

LINDSEY SAYS:
"I’m extremely proud to have been in the fight for what was one of the most exciting seasons in ski racing history. With a few weeks left in the season I was over 200 points behind and was able to battle back into the overall lead with just two races remaining."

"I'm proud of defending the downhill, super G and super combined titles and I was ready to fight for what could have been a record fourth overall. Win or lose I just wanted the chance, [but] I felt devastated."

"Maria had an outstanding season and again proved to be my biggest competitor. She's worked really hard for this, I'm happy for her and every athlete who stood on the top step this season. Ted [Ligety] continues to take GS to a new level, Julia [Mancuso] was right back on the podium and the U.S. women won the downhill and super G standings. I cannot thank my husband, coaches and our entire team enough for their support. This was a great season. Missing the overall just gives me extra motivation to work harder in the off-season. No one else will be taking a break, so I'm not either."

FIRST TRACKS:
Growing up in the Twin Cities area (in Burnsville), Vonn was on skis at two before moving into Erich Sailer's renowned program at Buck Hill. She commuted to Vail for a couple of years before the Kildow family (her maiden name) moved to Vail in the late Nineties. En route to the World Cup, she excelled at every level—Junior Olympics, Trofeo Topolino, Whistler Cup (kids 11-14), Junior Worlds, NorAms and Europa Cup.

OFF THE SNOW:
As a true measure of her fitness, Vonn was approached in 2011 to be the new host of TV's The Biggest Loser. She's also been asked to be on Dancing with the Stars on numerous occasions. But the TV career will have to wait as she vows to ski through 2015. In the meantime, you'll find her in the gym and inspiring young athletes across the world—a personal goal she took to a new level as a youth ambassador for the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games.

Away from the media, she's into tennis, baking and just hanging out. Future plans include having a family, but that may have to wait until after the 2015 season when her home mountain of Vail, CO hosts the World Championships. In the meantime, she'll have to settle for watching over her farm family. After winning a cow with victory in the 2005 Val d'Isere, France downhill, whom she promptly named Olympe, the herd has since grown to five and also includes a goat. All reside outside of Kirchberg, Austria.