Team USA skier Lindsey Vonn is set to earn a staggering sum for her participation at the Winter Olympics, despite only competing in official competition at the Games for 13 seconds.
The 41-year-old was attempting to become the oldest ever alpine skiing Olympic medal winner when she crashed out early in her run after her right ski pole clipped an outside gate. This threw off her balance and caused her to crash hard, tumbling down the course before eventually coming to a stop.
The 2010 Olympic champion was airlifted off the course and transported to Ca’ Foncello hospital in Trevino for further assessment. Here it was confirmed that she had undergone an ‘orthapaedic operation’ to stabilise a left leg fracture, being treated by a ‘multidisciplinary team.’
This was the latest in a string of bad luck for Vonn, having suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee just nine days before this final at a World Cup event. Her decision to compete despite this had resulted in significant attention to her Olympic campaign. Her prospects going into the event weren’t too bleak, having completed two training runs to make her eligible to compete in the final, with one only 0.37 seconds slower than her teammate Breezy Johnson, who went on to win gold.
Lindsey Vonn’s Massive Winter Olympic Payout Despite Crashing Out Early
Despite her Olympic dream ending in tatters, Vonn will still earn a six-figure sum after making the Team USA roster. Following an eye-watering donation of $100 million from billionaire Ross Stevens to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, each athlete is set to receive a guaranteed $200,000 (£147,000), regardless of how they perform.
This means that Vonn qualifies for the bonus, even though she was only in active competition for mere moments. As per the conditions laid out by Stevens, $100,000 is payable ’20 years after their first qualifying Olympic appearance or at age 45, whichever comes later’.
Vonn first competed for Team USA as a 17-year-old in 2002, meaning that she has already completed the 20-year waiting period. Therefore, when she turns 45 in October 2029, the $100,000 will hit her bank account.
The other $100,000 takes the form of a ‘guaranteed benefit’ for an athlete’s family after they pass away. Not bad for a few seconds’ work – and the $200,000 doesn’t take into account any of Vonn’s sponsorships or endorsements.
Vonn Explains Her Decision To Compete With No ACL at the Winter Olympics
In the lead up to the event, Vonn was active on social media. In one post she responded to sports medicine doctor Brian Sutterer, who questioned the state of her ACL before her original crash. She told him that her ACL was ‘fully functioning until last Friday,’ but that now it is ‘100% ruptured. Not 80% or 50%. It’s 100% gone.’
Among those who doubted her Olympic campaign on social media was mental performance coach Greg Gaber. In an opinion piece for USA Today he claimed that ‘it would seem that she is risking long-term physical repercussions by refusing to hang up her skis at this point.’ He suggested that ‘there are probably many reasons why she is skiing injured at her age,’ saying that ‘maybe the pain is the point.’
Vonn was understandably unhappy with the piece, and responded directly to a now-deleted post of Graber’s on Twitter.
‘I’m sorry Greg but this is a very odd opinion piece. The pain and suffering is the point? I’m searching for meaning? Why am I taking risk ‘at my age’? This ageism stuff is getting really old.’
‘My life does not revolve around ski racing. I am a woman that loves to ski. I don’t have an identity issue, I know exactly who I am. I was retired for 6 years and I have an amazing life.’
‘I don’t need to ski, but I love to ski. I came all this way for one final Olympics and I’m going to go and do my best, ACL or no. It’s as simple as that.’
‘And respectfully, if you don’t know the story, it might be best not to make assumptions.’
In a separate response, Vonn said: ‘I should add, I’m not skiing past my prime, like the examples you gave. Might want to take a peak at the current downhill standings. I guess it will surprise you to see who is leading,’ referencing the fact that she is ranked number one.
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