“My heart is incredibly heavy”
Ski star Lindsey Vonn is worried about her home country USA
02/05/2026 – 07:38 amReading time: 2 minutes
Despite a torn cruciate ligament, Lindsey Vonn wants to take part in the Olympics. Before that, she comments on her home country.
Lindsey Vonn is currently more concerned with the political situation in the USA than her sporting commitments. The former ski racer is concerned about developments in her home state of Minnesota – and speaks openly about it shortly before the Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
“I have family and friends in Minnesota, where I grew up. My heart is incredibly heavy for everyone back home,” the 41-year-old American said at a press conference before the games began.
Vonn is from Saint Paul, the capital of Minnesota, which together with Minneapolis forms the Twin Cities metropolitan area. In Minneapolis, a woman and a man were shot during operations by ICE officers. This triggered numerous other protests.
“I think the best thing I can do is do exactly what I said: stand tall, have hope and show the world what America is, who we are as people, because we are more than what’s happening right now,” said the 2010 Vancouver Olympic downhill champion.
Vonn faces a big challenge in terms of sport. The 84-time World Cup winner wants to compete in the Winter Games despite a torn cruciate ligament in her left knee. The ski racer sustained the injury in a fall in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, during the Olympic dress rehearsal.
“I can only do my best to represent our country in the best possible way. It’s an honor to be here. I take that very seriously. I always do my best to make our country proud and I hope I can do that at these Games,” Vonn said. Her first scheduled start is on February 8th at the downhill decision in Cortina.
