Skier Lindsey Vonn will compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics despite a ruptured ACL: She emphasizes grit as the most crucial quality in life and business
The Olympic skier is ending her retirement to take part in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Vonn, who is 41, is returning from retirement even though she has a ruptured ACL. Her dedication to sports—putting in the work daily and staying consistent during tough periods—shaped her approach to investing.
Following from competitive skiing in 2019, Vonn began exploring the field of investing. The three-time Olympic medal winner took on building an investment portfolio using the same long-term perspective she applied to her years of brand partnerships as an athlete.
Over the past two-plus decades, she has served as a representative for and . She’s also been a Rolex spokesperson for nearly the same length of time.
“I don’t ever look at anything short-term,” she says. “It served me well in my career. And now in this new investment world.”
In 2023, Vonn had a conversation with journalist Jo Ling Kent at the Brainstorm Tech conference held in Park City, Utah.
As an investor, Vonn has supported the and the . She is also part of , the women’s soccer team based in Los Angeles.
“I look at investing in the same way I looked at relationship-building for my brand, and what partners I chose to work with,” Vonn added. “It’s what’s authentic to me, what I believe in, what I use, what I believe is going to be a value long term.”
Vonn also founded the Lindsey Vonn Foundation, whose mission is to assist girls in growing and building confidence by pursuing their interests—whether in art or sports. She wants to reverse the decline in sports participation that occurs when girls.
“I’m here to try to tell them that they can and give them the skill set,” she says.
During her career as a pro athlete, dealing with injuries and mental health struggles taught her that grit is the most crucial trait.
“Successful people are determined and gritty,” she says. “It’s not the smartest people in the room. It’s the people that are willing to sacrifice the most to be the best.”
An earlier version of this article appeared on on July 13, 2023.
Additional coverage about the 2026 Winter Olympics:
- All U.S. Olympians receive —regardless of whether they win a medal—due to a $100 million donation from a billionaire.
- Gold and silver prices have skyrocketed ahead of the 2026 Olympics, and now with certain items selling for more than $100,000.
- —a large number of them have to balance multiple jobs (like baristas, brokers, and dentists) just to make ends meet.