Lindsey Vonn has shot back at social media trolls who inundated her with abuse on Saturday when she failed to medal and said her ‘bad’ performance was payback for her previous anti-Trump remarks.
Before traveling to Pyeongchang to take part in the Winter Olympics, Vonn, 33, said she would not celebrate any victory she might receive at the White House.
In a December 7 interview, she made her opinion of Trump and the current administration clear, saying that she was not there to represent him or them but was there for the ‘people of the United States’.
‘I hope to represent the people of the United States, not the president. I take the Olympics very seriously and what they mean and what they represent, what walking under our flag means in the opening ceremony.
‘I want to represent our country well. I don’t think that there are a lot of people currently in our government that do that,’ she said told CNN in December.
In the same interview, Vonn fired back ‘absolutely not’ when asked if she would accept an invitation to Trump’s White House.
‘Absolutely not. Nope. But I have to win to be invited. No, actually, I think every US team member is invited, so no, I won’t go,’ she said. She later doubled down on them, saying the rest of the world no longer viewed America as a country of hope.
In recent weeks, she has complained online about the lack of financial support the government gives the Olympics and she has also called on congress for tighter gun laws in wake of the Parkland high school shooting on Valentine’s Day.
On Saturday, after failing to medal in the Super-G, she received a torrent of abuse from critics who said it was ‘karma’ she hadn’t won.
Vonn (right) has faced hostility from some supporters of President Donald Trump since she said in December she would not visit the White House if she won an Olympic gold medal
Disbelief: Lindsey Vonn fell short of a medal on Saturday after she stumbled on her last turn during the Women’s Super-G race
‘Lindsey Vonn is the latest to suffer from ‘Trump Effect’. Should keep your mouth shut and race. Don’t insult us,’ said one Trump fan.
‘Karma is a mo fo. Glad to see you lose. You’re an anti-American,’ another quipped.
‘Karma will always bite you… that’s what you get for trying to get political when you should have just focused on the Olympics.
‘Tisk tisk, but hey, now you don’t have to worry about not going to the White House! Only winners go to the White House!’ another said.
Others shared video of her run and said it was proof of her ‘choking’.
‘When you insult POTUS, you insult America. No White House invite for you!’ was one of the comments alongside a clip of the video.
The interview sparked controversy in December and incited comments from Trump fans including conservative pundit Tomi Lahren.
Vonn at the time said she learned how ‘divided’ the country had become because of it and she lamented some of the abuse which included people saying they wished she would break her neck when competing.
On Sunday, as she returned to the slopes to practice ahead of Wednesday’s event, she brushed the new criticism off in the same way.
In a December interview, Vonn said she was not representing Trump at the Olympics but was representing the ‘people of the United States’. She also said firmly that she would not accept an invitation to the White House to celebrate any victory she might get
Trump fans seized on her performance on Saturday and said it was proof of a ‘Trump curse’ and ‘karma’ for her earlier remarks
‘That is what bullies want you to do. They want to defeat you and I am not defeated, I am the same.
‘I stand by my values and I am not going to back down. I may not be as vocal right now with my opinions but that doesn’t mean they have won. I haven’t changed my mind,’ she said.
In December, Vonn tried to calm some of the outcry over the interview.
In a lengthy Instagram post, she said she had been trying to say that the Olympics were not political.
‘None of us work tirelessly for years on end to compete in the Olympics on behalf of Democrats or Republicans.
‘The Olympics are a non-political event, a chance for everyone to put aside their differences and be on the same “team.” That does not mean that Olympic athletes don’t have political opinions.’
She continued: ‘I am proud to be an American, and I want our country to continue to be a symbol of hope, compassion, inclusion and world unity. My travels around the world have recently made clear that this is no longer how people view the United States.
‘You cannot pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV in Europe without noticing how people are questioning our direction. It seems to me that we must lead with understanding and strive for unity in our relationships throughout the world.
As for myself, my recent comments opened up my eyes as to how divided we are right now. It is hurtful to read comments where people are hoping I break my neck or that God is punishing me for being “anti-Trump.”
The 33-year-old also later stood by what she had said and brushed off the ‘bullies’ remarks
Previous victory: Vonn has won two Olympic medals in previous years. She is pictured during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games after she won a bronze medal during her Super-G race
Vonn said some of the comments had affected her, but she had decided not to monitor social media before her races.
‘It is hard. Definitely before the race I don’t go on social media, I may post something but I don’t look at anything,’ she said.
‘I always try to remember that it’s people talking behind a computer and they are going to say anything and the most important thing is that I am having a good time, I am enjoying being at the Olympics, my family is here, they love me.
‘There are of course going to be people who hate me and hope I ski off a cliff and die. That’s fine – I’m not going to do that.
‘I just take it for what it is, at some point you just have to laugh and say it is completely ridiculous.’
Vonn is not the first Team USA athlete who has sparked outcry from Republicans this year over her anti-Trump views.
Gay figure skater Adam Rippon, who has been dubbed ‘America’s sweetheart, said he would boycott a White House party for the athletes in protest against Vice President Mike Pence’s ‘homophobic’ views.
He was also reported to have turned down an invitation to meet Vice President Pence, who was in South Korea for the Opening Ceremony.
Rippon’s critics included Donald Trump Jr.
Gay figure skater Adam Rippon previously said he would not attend a White House party in protest against Vice President Pence’s stance on homosexuality
Rippon was slammed by the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr, over his Pence remarks
Skier Gus Kenworthy is pictured kissing his partner Matthew Wilkas, another Team USA athlete, on Sunday February 18. He previously spoke out against Vice President Pence who he said was a ‘strange choice’ to lead the delegation over his controversial views on homosexuality
Vonn is considered the person to beat in the downhill.
That’s long been her best event, the one in which she’s produced 42 of her women’s-record 81 World Cup race wins, including three in a row heading into the Olympics.
She also owns four downhill world championships medals, including a gold in 2009.
Vonn has looked in top form in training, clocking Sunday’s top time on the 1-mile course, before easing up and standing tall with arms spread at the finish on Monday.
‘She is definitely the favorite,’ said Italy’s Sofia Goggia, who was second in training Monday, behind only Austria’s Stephanie Venier, the runner-up at last year’s world championships.
There is more Alpine downhill training Tuesday.
Pyeongchang Olympics giant slalom champion Mikaela Shiffrin was 16th-fastest Monday. She and Vonn are assured of being picked for the four-woman U.S. downhill team, and Alice McKennis earned a spot by having the best time of other contenders Monday, arriving ninth overall.
Surprise super-G gold medalist Ester Ledecka of the Czech Republic has not participated in either downhill training run and is expected to instead compete in her other sport, snowboarding, where qualifying for the parallel giant slalom is Thursday.