19 - Minnesota, Lindsey Vonn

An Olympian in the truest sense. Driven from early in life and persevering through more than any person should. Lindsey Vonn.

Minnesota was the fifteenth state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment on September 18, 1919.


Race skiing was a family event, and Ms. Vonn showed excellence at a young age, working up to international competition by the age of nine. The family moved to Vail, CO to support her training. By 15, she was known world wide winning multiple events and the only woman to win the Italian Torfeo Toppolino.

“The following season [2005]was even more exciting, with Lindsey capturing her maiden World Cup race victory and attending her first World Championships. She racked up 13 top-five finishes in World Cup and World Championship events, standing on the podium six times and ending the season ranked sixth overall in the world,” says her website.

Joining the Red Bull team in 2006, her career skyrocketed with her new coach and training. She succeeded in winning many awards, but lost the Turin Olympics because she was injured. She had to learn to balance the injuries , the start of many injuries that would push her entire career. She used her goals of winning to manage her strength and stay skiing.

Throughout her racing, she stood on a podium 137 times, won seven Olympic medals and 17 medals at the World Championships, one of only six women to ever win in all five events. She battled her knee hardships through every season, but persevered to be the most successful American ski racer, greatest of all skiers, and second highest super ranking skier, man or woman. She retired officially in 2019.

Why this woman?

Watching Olympics was always in my family. My older sister was enamored with Olympians and spread that culture of following sports to us all.

Not someone that follows sports through the years, I do get caught up in the significant events and the telling stories of athletes that really push beyond anything a “normal” person can do or be. These athletes redefine dedication and have the mental capacity to push beyond injury, pain, and cutting off of a typical life. Lindsey struggled with a sport that challenged not only personal strength, but also pushed your competition with the ever present risk of injury or losing control.

I attempted to learn to ski late in life. My fear of losing control on the snow and lack of muscle knowledge to get me out of situations was a wall I couldn’t overcome. Lindsey not only stared that wall down, but took her sport to the maximum level of success. Every risk and loss pushed her further and deeper ... to true success.
Location: Minnesota, USA

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