“I wanted to be an Olympian,” Lindsey Vonn reveals how 90 seconds with 2x Olympian Picabo Street inspired her skiing career and even post-retirement

Lindsey Vonn talks about how she decided to frame her life after retirement in 2019 and how former skier Picabo Street inspired her to be an Olympian.

“I wanted to be an Olympian,” Lindsey Vonn reveals how 90 seconds with 2x Olympian Picabo Street inspired her skiing career and even post-retirement

Olympian Picabo Street and Lindsey Vonn [Image Credit: US Ski Team/NBC News]

Ski queen Lindsey Vonn in an exclusive interview with The People revealed how her idol and 2x Olympian Picabo Street inspired her to be an Olympian at 9 years old. She recalled her experience of meeting the legendary skier as “the most impactful thing that happened to me” early in childhood.

During talks about her Miami love and her life after her 2019 retirement, she states that Picabo Street has played an enormous role in her decisions. Her ‘Lindsey Vonn Foundation’, which supports underserved girls between 10-18 through scholarships and camps, was actually inspired by ‘Picabo’s Streets of Dream Foundation’.

YouTube video

Just like Lindsey Vonn, Street also experienced injuries plaguing her professional career and putting an early end to it. After her Olympic gold-winning, Street crashed and snapped her left femur and tore a ligament in her right knee. Even 2 years of rehabilitation couldn’t bring the Olympian back to the ice, as she retired in 2002.

FS Video

Vonn says, even though she misses competing she’s satisfied with the life she built for herself. Just like how Picabo Street, a.k.a, ‘Peek’ inspired young kids to pursue their passions, Vonn took the initiative to empower and inspire young dreams.

“...meeting my idol Picabo Street when I was 9-years-old was the most impactful thing that happened to me. It literally took 90 seconds of her time, and because of her, I wanted to be an Olympian.”

Lindsey Vonn talks about intimidating experience she had while interviewing Picabo Street during ‘Picabo’ movie project

Lindsey Vonn not only got inspired by Picabo Street in her career, but she also got the chance to co-direct the ‘Picabo’ movie along with legendary filmmaker Frank Marshall. Vonn noted how nervous and intimidated she was while interviewing her idol during the project.

Lindsey Vonn [Image Credit: Elle]
Lindsey Vonn [Image Credit: Elle]
“I had him guiding me the whole way, so it was definitely intimidating…to work with Frank Marshall, who’s a legend, and also to be interviewing my childhood idol.”
Lindsey Vonn on Picabo Street as per The Forbes.

Lindsey Vonn, who met ‘Peek’ during an autograph signing event became someone who “paved the way for me in American Ski racing.” She further said that Street’s story is “one of an American dream” where she paved her way from “very little means” to being at “the top of the world.”

Vonn recalled her experience of seeing her idol at a small ski shop during a signing event, “she was just this larger than life person.” Street’s presence, confidence, and personality “really sucked me in” and made Vonn strive for Olympic greatness.

After her retirement in 2019 due to continuous injuries, surgeries, and recuperations, Vonn started her life as an entrepreneur. Boasting a net worth of $12 million, she distributed her wealth into business and even authoring. 

As an Olympian and businesswoman, Lindsey Vonn continues to inspire young athletes across the globe. Having dealt with injuries and an early career end, she strives to make young dreams come true, just like her favorite icon Picabo Street.

In case you missed: