Lindsey Vonn is set to compete in her first Olympic race in eight years, and she will be doing so with a somewhat heavy heart.
Back in November, Vonn’s grandather Don Kildow died at the age of 88. Kildow, who served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and helped build roads in the nation during that time, had hoped to fly to PyeongChang to watch his granddaughter ski. Hours before the Super G event on Saturday, Vonn posted an emotional tribute to her grandfather on Instagram.
“Well…after 8 years of waiting I finally get a chance to compete in the Olympics again,” Vonn wrote. “This time I have a more important mission; win for my late Grandpa. He will be watching from the best seat in the house, hopefully looking out for me and guiding me down the mountain. I will leave it all out on the hill tomorrow and have no regrets. I love you Grandpa. Wish me luck.”
Vonn teared up during an interview this week when asked about Kildow, telling reporters what an important influence he was in her life.
Vonn, 33, last competed in an Olympic event in Vancouver back in 2010. She was unable to take part in the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi because she tore her ACL twice. Between the tweet she got from a young fan and the desire to win in honor of her grandfather, Vonn has plenty of motivation in what will likely be her final Olympics.
