Lindsey Vonn On Depression, Divorce, Racism and Mikaela Shiffrin

Olympic ski racer Lindsey Vonn felt depressed when she retired, it was like someone had died. On this weekend’s episode of In Depth with Graham Bensinger the world champion discusses the loneliness she felt after leaving racing, and the reason she had to move from her long-time home of Vail, Colo.

Vonn on Mikaela Shiffrin: she didn’t want to be part of the team.

Vonn wouldn’t define her relationship with fellow skier Mikaela Shiffrin as “challenging,” but said although she tried to get Shiffrin involved in the team dynamic, there remained a distance between them, even after Vonn’s retirement.

Lindsey Vonn: You know, I repeatedly, you know, tried to, you know, we, we always help each other with our course reports and I think I just, uh, I don’t, we didn’t have a challenging relationship. She just, she had her own thing and she didn’t really wanna be involved or have my help or have anyone’s help for that matter…

I mean everyone has their own approach and hers is different from anyone else’s, and that’s why maybe she’s successful. Um, but I also think as a professional athlete and, you know, someone who’s the greatest of all time, it’s your responsibility to help others. Like you’re in a role that you could positively impact so many people and I don’t feel like that’s being utilized in the way that it could be

The hate she receives for being in an interracial relationship.

Vonn is currently engaged to New Jersey Devils’ hockey player P.K. Subban. The couple have encountered racism and blatant hatred, and Vonn says she is trying to better educate herself on race:

Lindsey Vonn: I think there are conversations involved with race that are very difficult. Um, there’s not always a clear answer or a clear path to understanding…I’ll never be able to walk in PK’s shoes. And so, um, I try to learn as much as I can from him and from others and educate myself as much as possible.

Vonn says her relationship with Subban has led to some uncomfortable conversations.

Lindsey Vonn: It adds another layer of complication… I think the main thing is educating each other and, um, you know, really being willing to understand and open your mind up and I’ve gotten a lot of hate and I get myself a lot of trolls that really like to take pretty big digs at me.

Lindsey Vonn: Divorce helped my ski racing