How a legend returns and changes the rules of the game
American downhill champion Lindsey Vonn, one of the most successful female skiers of all time, is returning to racing at the age of 41 and is preparing to compete in the upcoming Winter Olympics. At the same time, she said, she also found a new relationship with her own body, not only as an aesthetic ideal, but as a work tool that can help her be even better.
As a result of changes in training and physical preparation, she deliberately gained several kilograms of muscle and mass, which, according to her, help her to better use the force of gravity in speed disciplines. The skier claims that she does not need the extra weight just for appearance, but mainly for technical performance on the slopes.
Great background as an asset, not a derogatory statement
Vonn now says that “big butts will always be in,” sparking a big debate in ski and sports circles. According to her, body weight and strength is a practical advantage in sports where both gravity and speed are decisive. This perspective is important precisely because downhill skiing is not only about the perfect figure, but also the ability to handle sharp descents with full body control and balance.
For Vonn, who has already won countless World Cup victories and Olympic medals during her career, it’s a bold message that also inspires younger athletes. It’s not just about appearance, but about accepting physical strength as a value that can significantly influence the sports result.
A paradigm shift for modern female athletes
Vonn is not only an expert on skiing, but also a voice whose opinions resonate beyond the sports tracks. When she talks about how strong body proportions can help speed downhill in a gravity event, she opens up a larger debate about how female athletes perceive their bodies in the context of performance and confidence.
Her return to the racing scene at an age when most professionals have already retired is, along with the Olympic medals themselves, just one of the reasons why her opinion is watched and discussed throughout the sports world.
A debate that goes beyond the slopes
Vonn’s views quickly spread on social media, where many athletes and fans share their own experiences with body transformations and the benefits that specific physical proportions bring in their sport. This trend shows that even traditionally perceived “ideals of beauty” can change when athletic performance comes first.
At the same time, it opens up space for a broader discussion about how sports figure and physical characteristics are evaluated in the world of elite sport and beyond its borders.
Questionnaire
Is Lindsey Vonn right when she says “big asses will always fart”?
Yes. Downhill skiing is all about power, stability and performance.
Rather yes. Maybe it’s true for sports, but the public debate is already a bit over the top
No. Professional sports should not deal with body proportions in this way
A total of 80 readers voted.
