Unlike Michael Phelps and Simone Biles, Lindsey Vonn Is Not Afraid to Pass on Her Legacy to Kids

Parents can highly influence their children’s career trajectories, dreams, and expertise translating into their achievements. Alpine skiing icon Lindsey Vonn also started skiing through the influence of her father.

She became an Olympic champion in the downhill discipline at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and now has countless other titles to her name. Retired in 2019, it seems like Vonn plans to pass her legacy to her children when the opportunity arises.

Lindsey Vonn talks about wanting kids

A week into her retirement in 2019, Lindsey Vonn was interviewed by TODAY’s Hoda Kotb to talk about her experiences. In the interview, the skier claimed she has loved skiing her entire life and has been lucky enough to compete for almost two decades.

“My body gave out, but my passion for skiing will always remain,” Vonn said. “I can’t wait to go skiing with my kids one day.” At the time, Vonn was dating professional hockey player P. K. Subban and explained that having kids was maybe not too far in the future.

“I’m 34. We’re thinking about it,” she said. Much like Vonn wishes to pass on her legacy to her kids, the four-time overall World Cup champion got her first pair of skis from her father at the age of 2. Alan Kildow was quite an accomplished skier in his younger days before a knee injury ended his career on the slopes.

READ MORE: “Expected to Be Superhuman-” Lindsey Vonn Knows the Challenges Athletes Like Simone Biles and Mikaela Shiffrin Have to Go Through

Kildow won junior nationals and trained under U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Famer Erich Sailer. When Vonn was six, he brought her to Buck Hill, Minnesota, so she could also learn from the storied coach.

Michael Phelps and Simone Biles don’t share those sentiments

Lindsey Vonn became the most decorated female skier by the end of her career. She had 82 World Cup wins, just four shy of the overall record by Sweden’s Ingemar Stenmark of 86. But unlike her, other top athletes like gymnastics GOAT Simone Biles, and the most decorated Olympian, Michael Phelps, don’t want their kids following in their footsteps.

For the 23-time Olympic champion, the idea of his kids in the Olympics frightens him. As a father of three boys, Phelps explained, “I know the ins and the outs, the good, the bad, and the ugly. So, you know, as a parent, it just—it frightens me.”

Similarly, the gymnastics legend has her qualms about letting her children do gymnastics. In the wake of the sexual abuse scandal that Biles was a victim of, her decision solidified. Especially if she ever had a daughter.

“They haven’t taken accountability for their actions and what they’ve done,” Biles said when asked if she would want her daughter to be part of the USA Gymnastics system. “And they haven’t ensured us that it’s never going to happen again.”

DIVE DEEPER: “Don’t Feel Comfortable”- Soon to Be Married Simone Biles Doesn’t Want Future Daughter to Continue Her Gymnastics Legacy