Team USA skier Lindsey Vonn was delayed for more than six hours on her flight to the 2018 Winter Olympics on Wednesday, so she decided to live tweet it.
Vonn was headed from Munich, Germany to Seoul, South Korea when she was informed her flight couldn’t take off due to a paperwork issue, she texted to ESPN from the plane.
Apparently 15 planes of the same model were grounded around the world, Vonn said.
She eventually boarded another Airbus A340 and was on her way, but not before the alpine skier and four-time Olympian had some fun with the extra time by tweeting updates to her fans while her dog, Lucy, kept her company.
Team USA skier Lindsey Vonn was delayed for more than six hours on her flight to the 2018 Winter Olympics on Wednesday, so she decided to live tweet it
It just so happened while she was on her delay, that Jimmy Fallon was soliciting tweets from fans of the Tonight Show about why they’re single.
Vonn chimed in with her own answer for being an independent woman, and asked the late night talk show host for a little extra motivation, saying:
‘I’m single because I only have eyes for the Olympics [heart emoji] #whyimsingle #onetrackmind …also, where’s my pep talk coach?’
One fan responded to that with a GIF showing a huge crowd of people, shoulder to shoulder, and wrote that it was the ‘line of people wishing to date Lindsey.’
Line or no line, perhaps Vonn missed out on a potential love match, while on board one of Lufthansa Airline’s grounded Airbus A340s.
It just so happened while she was on her delay, that Jimmy Fallon was soliciting tweets from fans of the Tonight Show about why they’re single, and Vonn chimed in
One fan responded to that with a GIF showing a huge crowd of people, shoulder to shoulder, and wrote that it was the ‘line of people wishing to date Lindsey’
Vonn is seen here during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women’s Downhill on February 4 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, German
Before she realized there would be a delay in her departure, Vonn tweeted about a fellow passenger who tried to sneak a pic of the two-time-medalist
Before she realized there would be a delay in her departure, Vonn tweeted about a fellow passenger who tried to sneak a pic of the two-time-medalist.
‘Totally not awkward all when the guy next to me on the plane is trying to take a pic and his flash accidentally goes off and I catch him…’ she wrote.
She also said she would’ve taken a picture if he had asked, and acknowledged that asking first is the respectful thing to do.
She said she would’ve taken a picture if he had asked, but he never did
Vonn is seen here celebrating at the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women’s Downhill on February 4 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, German
She also said that asking first is the respectful thing to do, if you want a photo with her
In the midst of all that, Vonn shared her motivation for this specific year’s games.
‘Since I’m on the plane heading to Korea, I’d like to share why these Olympics are so special to me. My grandfather recently passed away and I will be competing for him, I will make him proud,’ she wrote.
She added: ‘Here is the last visit I had with him before he died,’ and included a link to a story by NBC on her bond with her late grandfather.
This year, she’ll try to outdo her past performances, which include winning the Gold medal in downhill skiing in the Vancouver Games in 2010, and taking home the bronze in the super-G event that same year.
Vonn had to sit out the last Winter Games in 2014, due to a knee injury.
For the extra observant fan, Vonn explained the ‘DK’ on her helmet is there because those are her granddad’s initials.
Vonn shared that her late grandfather is her motivation for this specific year’s games
For the extra observant fan, Vonn explained the ‘DK’ on her helmet is there because those are her granddad’s initials
Vonn of USA is seen here after winning first place during the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women’s Downhill on February 4 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Vonn’s fans learned she’d never get to explore any potential in-flight connection with her mystery seat mate, because the man apparently left her flying solo
Alas, after fans learned that emotional information about Vonn’s loss of her granpa, they also learned she’d never get to explore any potential in-flight connection with her mystery seat mate, because the man apparently left her flying solo.
‘Ok so this is weird…’ she wrote. ‘The poor guy next to me wasn’t feeling well so he deplaned….was it something I said? (but I didn’t say a peep) #feelbetterdude’
After his mysterious departure is when Vonn shared that she’d been stuck on the plane, without going anywhere, for at least two hours.
‘Well hopefully we get to Korea….apparently we don’t have the right documents to fly??? About 2 hours on the plane so far and just siting at the gate. Some Germans and Italians on the plane too. @lufthansa #canweflynowplease ‘
After the man seated next to her deplaned, Vonn shared that she’d been stuck on the plane, without going anywhere, for at least two hours
About an hour and a half later, Vonn decided to take a survey on when her followers thought she might make it to South Korea
One of those Germans was the country’s flag bearer, Eric Frenzel, ESPN reported. There were Austrian Olympians on board, too.
About an hour and a half later, Vonn decided to take a survey on when her followers thought she might make it to South Korea.
‘Well we are now off the plane… they are trying to find a new plane and hope to take off in an hour… how many hours, door to door, will it take me to get to Seoul?’ she wrote, including voting options for ‘over 24 hours’ and ‘under 24 hours’
About three-fourths of the nearly 4,000 people who responded weren’t too optimistic, in case you were wondering, and selected ‘over 24 hours’ in her poll.
Nearly two hours after that, and well into Wednesday evening in Germany, Vonn was seated on a new flight, and preparing to get on her way to PyeongChang’s opening ceremonies.
Nearly two hours after that, and well into Wednesday evening in Germany, Vonn was seated on her a flight, and preparing to get on her way to PyeongChang’s opening ceremonies
‘Finally on a new plane!’ she wrote.
‘Have to give a BIG thank you to all of the flight attendants for working overtime to stay on this flight. They all volunteered and we wouldn’t be able to fly without them! Now let’s hope we actually take off tonight.’
Fans were understandably concerned about her King Charles Spaniel, Lucy, who is making the trip to the Winter Games with her dog-mom, but Vonn assured her followers that her pup was just fine.
‘She’s been asleep this whole time!’ she answered in reply to a tweet asking her if Lucy had grown restless over the long delay.
‘Never barks or whines. She’s happy when she’s traveling, it’s pretty awesome.’
Fans were concerned about her King Charles Spaniel, Lucy, who is making the trip to the Winter Games with her dog-mom, but Vonn assured her followers that her pup was just fine
Vonn stretches her arms out with excitement and a smile on her face after winning first place at the Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup Women’s Downhill on February 4 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Right around 4.30 pm Eastern on Wednesday (which was about 10.30 pm on Wednesday in Germany), Vonn said she was back on track to her final destination.
Her wish was granted, and at right around 4.30 pm Eastern on Wednesday (which was about 10.30 pm on Wednesday in Germany), Vonn said she was back on track to her final destination.
‘After over 6 hours of hanging out at the gate, we’re off!! See you in another 10 hours Korea!’
Vonn will take part in the opening ceremonies in PyeongChang, South Korea, which is in a time zone that is 14 hours ahead of America’s east coast.
They’ll be broadcast in prime time on Thursday on NBC.
Vonn’s first scheduled event, the super-G, will take place on February 17.
Vonn will take part in the opening ceremonies in PyeongChang, South Korea, which is in a time zone that is 14 hours ahead of America’s east coast
Vonn’s first scheduled event, the super-G, will take place on February 17