Olympic gold medalist skier Lindsey Vonn says that she has a “switch” that goes off when you tell her she can’t accomplish something.

“Anytime someone said I couldn’t do something, that kicked my determination and drive into turbo mode,” Vonn shared during a talk with author Angela Duckworth and Wheels Up exec Gail Grimmett. “I was like, ‘Watch me, I’m going to prove you wrong and then some,’ and that’s kind of always how I’ve been.”

“I’ve had people question what I’m doing, or how I’m doing it. . . since I was like 7 years old. Those kind of things flip a switch in me and I go into full work mode.” the former Olympic champion added.

On the talk, which was put on by Wheels Up for women to discuss pursuing goals and mentorship, Vonn revealed that she has learned not to base her happiness on her career, “I’ve learned to not base my happiness on my career because I think oftentimes in the past I let it really get to me . . . my life was my career. As I’ve gotten older, and had different experiences, I’ve realized that’s not all life has to offer.”

Short Bio

Lindsey Vonn’s birth took place on October 18, 1984, in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. She was born as Lindsey Caroline Kildow to mother Linda Anne Kildow and father Alan Lee Kildow, who was a ski racer until a knee injury at the age of 18...Full Bio