In the middle of summer, ski racing runner Lindsey Vonn has succeeded in a spectacular coup for the upcoming winter: the American will be looked after by the former alpine superstar Aksel Lund Svindal in the Olympic season, which will also be her last.
This was announced by her ski manufacturer, who had also equipped the two-time Norwegian Olympic champion and multiple world champions for years.
“Getting Aksel to my team for this season feels like a natural and incredibly exciting step,” Lindsey Vonn was quoted. She and Aksel Lund Svindal “shared so much history on the mountain, from training to winning World Cup titles”, so over the years “a great deal of respect and trust has developed”.
The 40-year-old had already trained together with the then active Norwegian.
As Vonn, Svindal had resigned in the Swedish area after the 2019 World Championships. The 2010 Olympic champion decided last winter with a view to the Olympic Games in February in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo for a comeback.
“This comeback is about exceeding and proving what is possible, and I believe that Aksel will help me to have the additional lead that I will need on this ambitious journey,” said Vonn, who had taken second place in Sun Valley last winter and thus became the oldest ski racer who stood on the podium on the podium.
Svindal felt “honored” by Vonn request
In 2010 Svindal won Olympic gold in the Super-G and eight years later in Pyeongchang in the departure. He also won the World Cup gold five times and twice the overall World Cup.
“His knowledge of sport, especially when it comes to equipment and racing strategy, is unprecedented and I have always valued his findings,” enthused Vonn.
Svindal also spoke up: “I was a little surprised when Lindsey called me, but above all I felt honored. She knows me pretty well, so she hadn’t asked, unless she really believed that I could do something. I can hardly wait to see what is possible in the next few months.”