Red Bull.com

This down-to-earth Minnesota girl is the dominant force in women’s alpine skiing.

By the age of 18, she had three World Cup downhill victories to her name and was on her way to the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino. But disaster struck when a horrific crash in practice all-but ended her chances before the contests had even begun. But that setback only strengthened her resolve and the following year she struck back, winning silver medals in downhill and Super G at the World Championships. It was a signal of intent.

In 2008 she won both the overall and the downhill World Cup titles. In 2009, she not only successfully defended her two titles – becoming the first American woman to claim back-to-back overall World Cup championships – but also added the Super G crown. Lindsey topped off a perfect season by also winning downhill and Super G golds at the World Championships.

In 2010, she returned to the Olympics in triumph, sweeping to gold in the downhill and a bronze in the Super-G, despite a sore ankle and later breaking her little finger in the fog-hit Giant Slalom. The victory established Lindsey as a household name all over the world and the golden girl quickly became one of the most in-demand guests on the chat show circuit.

Catch up with Lindsey on Twitter or visit www.lindseyvonn.com