Lindsey Vonn Opens Up About Her Personal Struggles

In recent years, athletes have used their spotlight to draw attention to the mental health effects of fame and fortune. Many, including Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, insist on being part of the discussion of mental health. Vonn recently shared her progress so that she can relate to and encourage others undergoing their own struggles.

Vonn went on an interview with Yahoo's The Unwind to discuss some her struggles with her physical and mental health through injuries, successes, failures and the rest.

"I think there’s a common misconception with athletes that because we’re strong and we stand on the podium that we’re somehow immune to mental health issues," said Vonn. "I think, on the contrary, it makes us more susceptible to things like that because we are isolated and we oftentimes don’t have a support system for our mental health."

Lindsey Vonn retired in 2019 as the most decorated women's skier in the sport's history. Vonn accumulated 82 World Cup victories and seven World Championships and was equally lauded for coming back to health after a frightening crash in 2013.

Vonn has clearly achieved tremendous feats, and she discusses the rigorous routine that athletes undergo once they dedicate their life to sport. However, she says that many in the media turn a blind eye to the well-being of the athletes and show little sympathy for the mounting pressure they face.

"I’ve been skiing since I was 2 and a half years old, been racing since I was 7. It’s really been the focus of my life for as long as I can remember. After I won the Olympics in 2010, I kind of got bombarded with a lot of negativity that I wasn’t quite equipped to handle, so I definitely struggled with that and struggled with just confidence and body image for a long time."

She also gave insight on what it's like to wrap up a historic career.

"You wake up one day and you’re no longer doing what you always did. So as much as I had prepared for it, it still emotionally was really difficult to deal with," said Vonn.

In an effort to combat the struggles of being an athlete, Vonn works to maintain her body physically, which gives her a positive sense of self.

"My body is my body and it’s helped me succeed in so many ways in life. I’ve always worked out, but I’ve always worked out for a purpose, which is to compete. And now, I work out for my mental health," she admits. "I feel like, honestly, it helps me more mentally than it does physically and it’s a great way for me to start my day and just to feel really empowered and confident."

She may no longer train to compete at the Olympics or put in grueling hours of practice on the slopes, but Vonn still hopes to build on her mental wellness through healthy routines and the company of her dogs.