During a recent announcement concerning the lineup for the skiing world championships, Lindsey Vonn, an iconic figure in skiing, acknowledged her social media misstep following the revelation that she would not be paired with fellow American skier Mikaela Shiffrin for the much-anticipated team combined race. The event took place in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, and marked another pivotal moment in the athletic careers of these prominent sports figures.
The team combined race, which is set to make its Olympic debut next year, involves a dynamic pairing where one racer completes a downhill run and another a slalom. The duo's cumulative time determines their final standing. Vonn had eagerly campaigned to partner with Shiffrin, hoping to form a 'dream team.' However, the announcement on Instagram revealed that Breezy Johnson, the reigning downhill world champion, would join Shiffrin, leaving Vonn visibly upset. Turning to X, formerly known as Twitter, Vonn's immediate response was, Why am I not surprised? complete with a shrug emoji, a post she later retracted.
Reflecting on her hasty reaction, Vonn admitted, Maybe I didn’t help myself or the team by having my Twitter fingers out, acknowledging that her emotional response might not have been constructive. However, she was transparent about her feelings, expressing frustration over the lack of direct communication regarding the team decisions.
In the actual race, Vonn placed 21st in the downhill section, creating a remarkable challenge for her American teammate AJ Hurt. Lauren Macuga, also from the U.S., led the pack in the downhill, while Johnson secured fourth place. Vonn’s return to competitive skiing after nearly six years of retirement has been beset with challenges; her struggles were partly attributed to equipment issues. I was in my tuck pretty much the whole way down and just not accelerating anywhere, she commented, hinting at the need for adjustments in her setup.
The U.S. team’s coaching staff utilized the season’s best results to determine pairings for the combined event, a decision that Vonn ultimately respected. She acknowledged, I didn’t have a problem with the selection process. It was 100% the right decision. Breezy and Mikaela should be the pair. Her primary grievance stemmed from how the decision was communicated—or rather, how it wasn’t. Learning about her exclusion from social media, rather than through a direct conversation, felt unprofessional to Vonn.
Conversations between Vonn and Shiffrin had hinted at teaming up for the race. Yet, communication breakdowns left Vonn in the dark until the very last moment. U.S. speed coach Alex Hoedlmoser reinforced the choice, stating, We had to make sure to bring the fastest pairings together, and it was very obvious that Breezy was the fastest in the downhill. Indeed, the decision was purely performance-based, aiming for the most competitive pairings.
Vonn’s experience and reflections highlight critical aspects of team sports, especially the importance of clear communication. While the racing dynamics are essential, emotional and relational elements also play a significant role in sports. As Vonn moves forward from this incident, her efforts to balance competitive spirit with emotional expression continue to inspire and educate athletes around the world.
