Lindsey Vonn didn’t hold back when confronting an online hater who wished her serious harm as she gears up for the Winter Olympics. The legendary alpine skier, who staged a remarkable comeback to the slopes after a six-year hiatus, shared a screenshot of the exchange on her Instagram story.
Vonn, now 40, stepped away from competitive skiing in 2019 following a string of debilitating injuries, including a severe knee issue in November 2018 that left her with nerve damage and no lateral collateral ligament (LCL). She pushed through that final season, capping her career with a bronze medal in downhill at the 2019 World Championships in Åre, Sweden.
Her return in November 2024 came after successful partial knee replacement surgery, but it has drawn relentless backlash from critics questioning her decision to compete at her age. In the latest incident, an Instagram user unleashed a barrage of insults:
“You are absolutely disgusting. No role model. Glad you are hurt, and I hope you miss the Olympics, you disgusting ‘American.’ Go ski into a tree.”
Vonn responded sharply: “One of the downsides of social media. Thank you for hoping I die Brad…”
This isn’t the first time she’s addressed detractors. Recently, she also pushed back against Slovenian skier Ilka Štuhec, who nicknamed her “Grandma.”
Despite the negativity, Vonn remains focused and resilient. She recently graced the cover of Time magazine, where she reflected on her journey in an emotional Instagram post:
“I never could have imagined, even in my wildest dreams, that my life would lead me here. I’m just a girl from Minnesota who wanted to ski fast. But this cover means I’ve done a lot more in my life than just ski fast. People might not know what I’ve done on the mountain, but they know that no matter how many times I fall, I will always pick myself back up, and I hope it inspires others to do the same!”
At 41, she added: “I’m still chasing dreams, still pushing limits, still believing in what’s possible. My hope is that anyone reading this remembers: never give up on yourself. Never stop dreaming.”
Since her comeback, Vonn has already notched two podium finishes in 2025, proving her critics wrong on the snow.
