PARIS (ABC4 Sports) – 3-time Olympic medal winning skier Lindsey Vonn couldn’t hold back her excitement when the 2034 Winter Games were awarded to Salt Lake City early Wednesday morning.
“We nailed it,” said Vonn, who was part of the Utah contingent that traveled to Paris. “We had so many people, I know it’s been a long run up and I know everyone was like, we need to get this nomination, and we did it. Now we will bring the games home to Salt Lake, and it’s going to be insane.”
Vonn won three Olympic medals, and four World Cup titles during her 15-year skiing career. But after retiring in 2019, the 2034 Games is all she has been focused on.
“I am so amped,” Vonn said. “This is the most excited I’ve been since I retired from ski racing and it’s just a privilege for me to be a part of this team. Now we can get to work on making the Olympics an incredible experience for everyone.”
By everyone, Vonn means the athletes’ families. Vonn knows first hand how stressful it can be getting tickets and securing accommodations for family members.
“One of my biggest worries was trying to make sure family members could get to see me compete,” she said. “It would have been so helpful to be able to focus exclusively on competing. My dad may not have been in all of my competitions, but he’s always supported me, and I’m so thankful that he’s here today to support me now.”
Vonn was instrumental in creating a program called the Athletes Families Initiative, a first-time committee that will solely be devoted to bringing the athletes’ families to Utah, and taking care of all the traveling details.
“The program is simple,” Vonn said. “We will share access to tickets, transportation, accommodations at a fair cost. We will create one or more villages for athletes families, including one right next to our Olympic and Paralympic village. Families matter in every culture, and in Utah, that is especially true.”
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