Vonn, long lost Norwegian adopted by Aksel Svindal’s ‘Attacking Vikings’
ARE: US ski star Lindsey Vonn bows out from skiing this weekend at the same time as Aksel Lund Svindal, a Norwegian legend two years her senior whom she has described as her “life coach”.
Vonn has decided to hang up her catsuit at the age of 34 after Sunday’s downhill, her 82 World Cup wins tantilisingly short of the record held by Ingemar Stenmark (86). The multi-medalled Svindal, 36, will also shelve his skis and move on from the global circuit.
As the end nears, the two skiers are increasingly hampered by niggling knee injuries. “We’re both going through the same thing at the exact same time,” said Vonn, whose accolades include a record 20 World Cup titles, including four overall, along with 2010 Olympic downill gold and seven world medals, two of which were gold. The American has trained extensively with the Svindal-led Norwegian ski team, dubbed the “Attacking Vikings”. “I train with them quite a bit, probably more than the US men,” said Vonn, whose greatgreat grandmother hails from the Norwegian town of Laudal.
“They’ve always pushed me and always resepcted me as much as I respect them and I find that to be very motivating. “They’re always smiling, working hard and very gracious on and off the slope. It’s been a privilege to spend time with them.”
Svindal and teammate Kjetil Jansrud, 32, have enjoyed a longevity on the World Cup circuit with Vonn which means the trio have also become good friends and confidants. Svindal was effusive in his praise for Vonn, saying: “She’s been a great profile for skiing on and off the hill. “She has a reach that goes beyond just racing and that is something everyone involved in skiing should be grateful for because it’s important for the sport to have those profiles.”
AN INSPIRATION
Jansrud added: “She’s the record-breaking woman out there and has been a source of inspiration for everybody including all the men and us as a team. “We have spent a lot of days training together with the US team and also at the same places as the US women’s team, for example in Chile, in Portillo, during the summer. We spend a lot of time together.
“She’s a great girl. She’s fun and has a way of looking at this sport which is very healthy for the mind: it’s everything but you’re also having fun and very relaxed with what you’re doing. We’ll miss her.”
Vonn acknowledged that she shared a technical talking point with the Norwegian men. “I talk about their skis with them because I’m on men’s skis!” she said. Throughout her career, Vonn long argued with the International Ski Federation (FIS) that she be allowed to compete against men, something the governing body has so far refused to agree to.
‘BAD MISTAKE’
Svindal and Jansrud consistently gave full backing to Vonn’s dream, the former calling FIS’ refusal a “bad mistake”. “She’s done some pretty ballsy stuff,” Svindal said of Vonn. “If I was representing the sport at the highest level, I would have allowed her to ski against the men for instance.
“No matter if you grew up in the desert or on the snow, that’s something you can relate to: a girl taking on the guys. “That would have been great marketing for the sport and would have a reach that goes beyond snow-covered mountains.”
Jansrud added: “She was welcome to do it, but it ended up being a thing of politics. “If ever there was a girl who could, then Lindsey in her prime would be there. “Just having the question in the mix, ‘Should I race against the men?’, tells you something about how good she is. There are not many (women ski racers) throughout history of whom you could have asked that question.” Vonn admitted to bittersweet feelings going into her final weekend of racing, but underlined that she had at least had someone to whom she could relate. “I don’t think a lot of people understand the emotions I’m going through,” she said.
“Aksel is in the same position as I am. We’re both accepting of where we are. “We both said maybe we should finish out in Are and have a big party!” — AFP