Cortina d’Ampezzo isn’t just a ski resort—it’s Lindsey Vonn’s personal kingdom in the Dolomites, a place etched with nearly a quarter-century of triumphs, tears, and unbreakable bonds.
Dubbed the “Queen of the Dolomites,” the 41-year-old legend has called Cortina home to some of her most defining moments since her breakthrough in 2004. That January, as a 19-year-old phenom (then Lindsey Kildow), she claimed her first World Cup podium with a third-place finish in downhill—a breakthrough that sparked belief she could compete with the world’s elite. She still remembers the emotional phone call home, tears flowing as she told her family she’d arrived among the best.
From there, the love story exploded: Vonn racked up a record 12 World Cup victories on the iconic slopes, more than any skier in history at a single venue. She shattered Annemarie Moser-Pröll’s longstanding record for most career World Cup wins right there in 2015, turning Cortina into a monument to her dominance in speed events. The town became where she “really figured out how to be competitive,” she once said—a turning point that shaped her path to 82 career victories and four overall World Cup titles.
Beyond the stats, Cortina holds deeply sentimental weight. Family reunions with her Italy-based sister added warmth to the high-stakes races. Historic milestones piled up: course records, emotional tributes, even quirky tales like the infamous “Tiger’s tooth” incident during her relationship with Tiger Woods. Through crashes, comebacks, and her 2019 retirement, one regret lingered—she never got to race an Olympics in Cortina.
That’s why her improbable return at 41, post-knee replacement and after a recent scary crash, feels so poetic. With the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics just days away, Vonn sees this as the perfect, meaningful capstone. “It’s where I had my first podium… it’s always held a special place in my heart,” she reflected.
As she battles to recover and toe the line in women’s downhill, super-G, and beyond, the Queen of Cortina isn’t just chasing medals—she’s chasing closure on 24 years of memories that turned a resort into legend.
For Vonn, Cortina isn’t just hosting the Games. It’s hosting her story’s final, heartfelt chapter.
