YAY Lindsey!
Women have to maintain a higher bar. Period. At work, relationships (personal, family, parenting), and in athleticism – especially at the professional level. We’ve just seen it in real time at the Olympics.
When Lindsey Vonn announced her return to competitive skiing in late 2024 at age 40 she faced intense skepticism from the media regarding her age, physical condition, and the wisdom of returning after a 2019 retirement, and years of rehab after a knee replacement. Critics labeled her comeback attempt as “too old” or “mad”.
By comparison Michael Jordan returned to the NBA in 2001, celebrated at age 38 as a globally celebrated Greatest Of All Time, and honored for his love of the game and competitive spirit. Let that sink in.
So Lindsey HAD TO PROVE IT.
Lindsey had to actively defend her decision to return from retirement by winning the St. Moritz World Cup in December. It was her 83rd career World Cup victory – and served as proof for critics who questioned her comeback.
Then … Well, we know what happened.
After a crash a week prior to the Olympics, another wave of judgement erupted from people who don’t know what it means to be an elite athlete, or certainly don’t know anything about Lindsey herself.
This isn’t about one athlete. We see it all the time.
Women are doubted, and have to prove their worth, their value, their legitimacy.
I’ve had this conversation among family members, friends, and clients. Some disagree about the wisdom of her decision to race downhill at 70mph after the crash a week before. She crashed horrifically – 14 seconds into the race.
The judgement and open hostility women face, particularly in this case, is a result of misinformation, assumption, or ignorance. Lindsey had every right to compete.
There is no “should”.
“She should have known it was time to quit” misses the reality of the grit of a woman in elite sport. The athletes who know Lindsey and the sport have defended her decision to compete.
She gave 100% and the crash had nothing to do with her knee or her age. Now Lindsey has to redefine herself, accept a new identity as a retired athlete, and a woman who gave it all right to the end. She did what she had to do. It was never about “should”.
I doubt – no, I know that a male athlete would not be getting this kind of scrutiny after finishing a stellar career, having endured years of work to get to this point.
Lindsey chose to risk it, and for me she’s a model of self determination, and personal empowerment. If I were an athlete at the level of Lindsey Vonn, I might’ve made the same choice.
#myhero
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