BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Lindsey Vonn’s legacy lives around every turn at Buck Hill, in the face of her first coach, Erich Sailer, and in the dreams on Olympic hopefuls just like her, who cheered Vonn on as she captured a bronze medal in the Olympic women’s downhill race.
“She makes the kinds of turns that wins races because she has the perfect turn,” said Sailer, 93, who began coaching Vonn when she was just 6 years old, and also coached Vonn’s father.
Sailer said Vonn traveled to Europe with her when she was 9 years old. He remembers her work ethic, always the first skier to arrive and last to leave the slopes.
“Commitment, honesty, loyalty, good character, she displayed it all,” said Sailer. “Her goal is to be the best ever.”
Sailer said Vonn’s story is proof to all hopeful families, that a great skier can come from the Midwest.
“She proved to herself and everybody else she is ready for a big competition,” said Uros Pavlovcic, Buck Hill athletic director, coach and former Olympian, competing for his home country of Slovenia.
“In one way you have to put everything on the line, that was her life, she did everything possible,” said Pavlovcic.
A crowd of skiers and fans poured into Buck Hill’s Black Diamond restaurant watching her moment of competition. They clapped when Vonn finished.
“A really good run, but in the end a half of a second off,” said Marc Massie, a skier and Vonn fan.
Many young competitive downhill ski racers at Buck Hill call Vonn their idol and inspiration, where she will always continue to inspire at a place her dreams began.
“I am so appreciative of how relentless she is with her injuries and never giving up. She is an absolute icon,” said Katie Brust.
“It’s really inspiring for us to look up and say, you can make it on this little hill,” said Hannah Bruns. “It’s what we all have and what Lindsey achieved for us.”