Courtesy of Red Bull Newsroom
Photographer Credit:
Erich Spiess/ASP/Red Bull Content Pool
American uses Federer for inspiration as she hunts down World Cup history.
Lindsey Vonn has confirmed that she will race past the 2018 Winter Games in a bid to break Swede Ingemar Stenmark’s World Cup record of 86 victories.
The American is currently sitting on 77 FIS World Cup wins after finishing a mixed season where she battled to overcome a niggling hand injury she incurred breaking her right arm at Copper Mountain last November.
The 32-year-old told The Vail Daily News, “I’ve decided to extend my career another year, so after the Olympics, I’ll for sure be competing for one more season.
“I feel like that way I don’t have to be incredibly focused on the World Cup record and the Olympics. I can just really focus on the Olympics and give myself a little bit more time to get the World Cup record.”
Photographer Credit:
Erich Spiess/ASP/Red Bull Content Pool
She will use the off season in Vail to continue her rehab as well as devote time to The Lindsey Vonn Foundation with its focus on supporting girls through scholarships, education and athletics.
Vonn’s prime from 2008 to 2012 saw her dominate the women’s alpine ski scene, her total of 411 FIS World Cup points this past season her lowest since 2014.
The 2010 Vancouver downhill champion and two-time World Championship gold medallist, though, believes that she has still got what it takes to compete at the highest level and uses Roger Federer as inspiration.
The Swiss tennis star looked like he might never win another Grand Slam after a poor 2016 by his standards, however bounced back in superb style to defeat Rafael Nadal in the recent Australian Open final.
She explained, “Federer has always been a big inspiration for me. He’s had a couple of injuries the last few years and is getting relatively older for his sport, as am I, and a lot of people have written him off and he’s come back.
“He won the Australian Open and now just won in Indian Wells (in California). I think he’s on a really good streak to win the U.S. Open and Wimbledon.
“Age doesn’t mean you can’t succeed – it’s just a number. As long as you’re motivated and willing to work hard, anything is still possible.”
Photographer Credit:
Erich Spiess/ASP/Red Bull Content Pool