U.S. Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn shared a deeply emotional message as she honored her late mother on what would have been her birthday, offering fans a rare and personal look into the memory that continues to guide her, especially during one of the toughest moments of her life.
The 41-year-old athlete posted a short video on social media showing a heartfelt exchange between her and her mother, Lindy Anne Lund.
In the clip, Vonn asks, “Mom, how proud are you?”
Her mother responds with powerful simplicity: “I am the proudest I’ve ever been my entire life.”
Photo by Stefano RELLANDINI / AFP via Getty Images
In her caption, Vonn expressed how much she wished her mother could still be with her.
“Happy birthday Mom 🤍🙏🏻 Wish you could have been here this year… I don’t know if you would be more proud now than you were at the 2018 Olympics when I got bronze… But I would really love to know,” she wrote.
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The message comes as Vonn continues recovering from serious injuries sustained during a recent Olympic crash.
Her words reflected both grief and gratitude. “I bet you would have lifted me up in the hospital and made everything better,” she added. “You always gave me the most amazing perspective and I’m trying to keep that going, especially now.”
Lindy Anne Lund passed away in August 2022 after battling ALS. Her influence on Vonn’s life goes far beyond this single memory. The skier has often spoken about her mother’s strength and resilience, especially after Lund suffered a stroke while giving birth to her, leaving her permanently disabled.
The emotional tribute arrives during a challenging time for Vonn. The Olympic medalist is still recovering from a major crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where she suffered a complex tibia fracture and a broken ankle. The accident required multiple surgeries and marked a painful setback in her return to competitive skiing.
Despite the physical and emotional toll, Vonn has remained determined. She recently shared a video of herself doing pull-ups while still using crutches, signaling progress in her recovery.
“First set of pull ups post surgery… slowly getting there!” she wrote in a separate post.
Vonn has repeatedly credited her mother for shaping her mindset, not just as an athlete, but as a person. Even when facing injuries or setbacks, she learned to keep going, inspired by her mom’s unwavering strength.
In a past interview, Vonn explained how that perspective stayed with her: knowing her mother could not do the physical activities she loved pushed her to make the most of every opportunity. That mindset is still evident today as she works through recovery.
As she focuses on healing, Vonn has made it clear that she will decide her future in skiing on her own terms. For now, her priority is getting back to normal life while holding onto the lessons her mother taught her.
And in moments of doubt, one sentence still echoes louder than anything else: “I am the proudest I’ve ever been.”
Related: U.S. Skier Lindsey Vonn Announces Personal Update After Several Surgeries
