Lindsey Vonn opens up about her depression battle: ‘I realized something was
Lindsey Vonn was ready to rise up after her mental health was going downhill.
The 37-year-old is the most successful female ski racer of all time with 82 World Cup victories. But these days, she’s celebrating a new triumph. After going public with her decades-long battle with depression in 2012, she’s written a memoir about her struggles behind closed doors and how she was determined to stay on top.
The Olympic medalist’s new book, titled “Rise: My Story,” explores the trials she faced, even after she retired. It takes a deep dive into how Vonn sought help to feel empowered both on and off the mountain.
Lindsey Vonn has written a memoir titled ‘Rise: My Story’.
(Dey Street Books)
Vonn spoke to Fox News about why she’s coming forward with her story now, how she chose to face depression, how she coped with the media scrutiny, as well as what her life is really like today.
Fox News: What inspired you to write your memoir “Rise” now?
Lindsey Vonn: Skiing has always been a part of who I am, I’ve skied all my life and never thought of it as a job because I love it so much. So when I retired from the sport in 2019, I of course had my own emotional struggles with the transition.
I decided to write my memoir “Rise” as a way to tell my story and reflect on the journey my skiing career took me on. The writing process proved to be very therapeutic in preparing me for this next phase in my life. I’m so appreciative of everything I’ve been through and I’m excited about what’s to come.
Lindsey Vonn retired from racing in 2019.
(Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
Fox News: Could you recall that moment when you realized you needed to get help for your depression? What was that wake-up call like for you?
Vonn: For me, it was when I started struggling to get out of bed and not going to the gym. Fitness and staying in shape have always been very important for me so when I started feeling that I would rather stay in bed than start my daily routine, I realized something was really wrong. I was starting to care less about training for my lifelong goals, so I knew I had to get help.
Fox News: What are some misconceptions you feel people still have about depression?
Vonn: It’s so great to see how far we’ve come as a society over the past decade in talking about mental health, anxiety, and depression. The U.S. has definitely come a long way, but from personal experience competing around the world, there is still a huge stigma surrounding mental health in other countries and there’s a long way to go.
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Fox News: Athletes are usually comfortable being around doctors due to sports-related injuries and physical therapies. However, why did the idea of speaking to a psychologist initially feel like “an additional layer of embarrassment?”
Vonn: At the time that I was competing, there were still so many negative connotations surrounding depression and anxiety. I do think it’s true that the hardest part about struggling with these things is admitting there’s…
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