Olympic Star Lindsey Vonn Pays Tribute to Mom Who Has ALS in Emotional Hall of Fame Speech

Lindsey Vonn ALS amyotrophic lateral sclerosis U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame Linda Krohn

By Joel Brussels , Parent Herald Jun 29, 05:15 am

Photo: (Photo : Ethan Mito/Getty Images for USOPC)

American sports star Lindsey Vonn became emotional when she dedicated her recent Olympic Hall of Fame induction to her mom, whose courage in the face of Lou Gehrig's disease is the latest example of strength she has set for her famous daughter, according to Today.

The retired skiing legend shed tears as she spoke about her mother, Linda Krohn, during her induction speech into the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame on June 24. Krohn, who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), was in the audience at the ceremony at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Vonn said in her speech that mainly she would like to dedicate this honor to her mother. The Olympic star mentioned that her mom has her own battle right now with ALS and that she has taught her so much about strength and character. Vonn thanked her mother for the example that she set that enabled the Olympic ski champion to overcome whatever obstacle that was thrown her way.

What is ALS? The average survival time is 2-5 years

ALS is a neurodegenerative disease with no cure. It destroys the nerve cells that control the muscles that allow people to breathe, eat, walk and speak. According to the ALS Association, most people get the disease between the ages of 40 and 70, and the average survival time for people with this illness is two to five years.

Her mother's strength has long inspired the 37-year-old Olympian. Krohn suffered a stroke while giving birth to her sportswoman daughter, leaving her with minor paralysis in her left leg that causes her to walk with a limp.

In January, Vonn told PBS "NewsHour" in an interview that her mother has been so positive her entire life, and she thinks that is where she has gotten that optimism.

Vonn added that whenever she faced adversity, especially physical injury during her career, she always looked to her mom for that level of optimism and positivity. Krohn rarely witnessed her daughter's early ski races because she could not walk up the mountain to see Vonn.

Vonn part of star-studded Hall of Fame class

Krohn told The New York Times in 2010 that 75 percent of the people die from the stroke she had. She said that she went in to have Lindsey on October 18, 1984, and she does not remember anything about it for the next seven weeks.

Vonn noted that her mother was never able to bike, run or ski with her while she was growing up. Seeing her mom's perseverance helped inspire Vonn when she fought to recover from a series of devastating knee injuries and setbacks in her illustrious sporting career.

Vonn is part of a star-studded 2022 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame class as the most successful female ski racer in history. She is the only American female athlete to ever win Olympic gold in the downhill event and the only woman to win four World Cup titles. Vonn's 82 World Cup victories are the most of any female skier in history.