Amid Lindsey Vonn's hospitalisation due to a downhill skiing accident, here's a look at her failed marriage and reason for divorce.
Lindsey Vonn is a legendary American alpine ski racer and three-time Olympic medalist who is currently making headlines for a sensational comeback to the sport at 41. Amid her preparations for the 2026 Olympics, she suffered a major setback. On January 30, 2026, reports suggested that Lindsey sustained a knee injury from a crash during a World Cup downhill race in Switzerland. The sportsperson still maintains a positive mindset and plans to return stronger. Amid that, here's a look at her personal life, including her separation from ex-husband, Thomas Vonn.
Thomas Vonn is a former American alpine ski racer and the ex-husband of Lindsey Vonn. He was an accomplished athlete in his own right before transitioning into coaching. During his marriage to Lindsey, he served as her primary coach, adviser, and manager. His guidance was pivotal to her early career success, including her first Olympic gold medal in 2010. Thomas managed nearly every aspect of her career, including training, equipment, media strategy, and logistics. Lindsey often credited him with bringing an "equilibrium" to her life, allowing her to focus entirely on racing.
Lindsey Vonn and Thomas Vonn's relationship began in the elite world of professional alpine skiing, evolving from fellow competitors into a coaching partnership and eventually into marriage. The pair first met during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, which was Lindsey's Olympic debut. At the time, she was 17, while Thomas was 26. The former couple quickly bonded over their shared passion for skiing and their experiences on the U.S. Ski Team. According to Lindsey, a competitive Thomas eventually became her "rock of support," assisting with her training and logistics and helping her deal with pre-competition nervousness.
After four years of professional and personal relationship, Thomas proposed to Lindsey on New Year's Eve in Kirchberg, Austria, during a fireworks display. The duo then tied the knot on September 29, 2007. The ceremony took place at the Silver Lake Lodge in Deer Valley, Utah. At the time of their wedding, Lindsey was 22, and Thomas was 31. Though it was a happy event marking their union, not everyone was thrilled. The marriage led to an estrangement between Lindsey and her father, Alan Kildow, that lasted until Lindsey's split from Thomas.
The reason for the estrangement was Lindsey's father's disapproval of her relationship because of the nine-year age gap with Thomas. Besides Lindsey and Thomas' age gap, tensions with her father reportedly arose over a conflict regarding her ski coaching. Alan Kildow wasn't happy about Thomas acting as Lindsey's primary coach and advisor, since Alan had long held that role. Additionally, some reports suggest that Lindsey Vonn's father was not invited to her wedding at Silver Lake Lodge in Deer Valley, Utah. She chose strained relations with her father over giving up on Thomas, and the duo lived as each other's only family until separation.
Lindsey and Thomas separated because their relationship had become a source of significant unhappiness and personal struggle behind the scenes. She stated that, despite the public image of a "perfect life," she reached a breaking point and felt she "just can't live like this," regardless of her professional success. Thomas served as Lindsey's coach, manager, and logistics coordinator. Lindsey later reflected that her life and training felt "dictated" by others, including her ex-husband and her father, and she needed to regain control.
Following his split with Lindsey, Thomas Vonn began a relationship with Shauna Kane. The couple has a son, Henrik Vonn, who was born in 2018. Lindsey, on the other hand, began relying more on the U.S. Ski Team staff rather than Thomas for coaching and logistics. However, she did not go back to being Lindsey Caroline Kildow and decided to continue using her married name professionally because she had already achieved global fame as Lindsey Vonn. As of January 2026, she was focused on her professional comeback ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympics, but her recent skiing accident served as a significant setback.
Lindsey Vonn's status for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics is currently uncertain as she sustained a knee injury exactly one week before the Olympic Opening Ceremony. crashed during her final World Cup downhill race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. She lost control after landing a jump in poor visibility, slammed into safety netting, and was subsequently airlifted to a hospital for evaluation of her injuries. Lindsey is currently undergoing further examinations and consulting with doctors to determine her physical condition.
Lindsey's coach, Aksel Lund Svindal, noted that while initial checks by physiotherapists seemed fine, more formal hospital tests were required to be 100 percent sure. Even though Lindsey Vonn is not physically fit, her Olympic dream might not be over yet, as she possesses great mental strength. Hours after the crash, Lindsey shared her positive attitude by posting on social media:
"This is a very difficult outcome one week before the Olympics... but if there's one thing I know how to do, it's a comeback. My Olympic dream is not over."
What are your thoughts on Lindsey Vonn's failed marraige with her ex-husband, Thomas Vonn? Let us know.
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