Vonn’s memoir is admirable not only for the way it portrays her ruthless will to succeed, but also for how it eschews ‘juicy gossip’ about a much-publicized past. Fans of women’s sports and especially skiing will no doubt find the book satisfying…. A grittily candid memoir.”  — Kirkus Reviews

“Vonn sets aside the medals and shows readers her human side.” — Popsugar

"I know the feeling of cold, early mornings and freezing, late-night practices. Lindsey’s story from skiing tiny Minnesota hills to towering Colorado mountains strikes a chord in anyone who’s been told they don’t fit the mold. Rise demonstrates the importance of setting yourself apart to change the game—how the game is played, how to improve the game, and how to use your platform for those coming after you." — Wayne Gretzky

"Lindsey Vonn’s story is an unfiltered, honest look at the mountains that need conquering for a female athlete to forge her own path, no matter how good she is. Powerful and evocative, Rise showcases Lindsey’s achievements on the hill and her emotional work off of it." — Billie Jean King

"Lindsey Vonn is a true American icon in the world of sports and will be remembered as one of, if not the greatest, of all time. But more important than her historic accomplishments, the Lindsey I’ve become close with is a good, solid human being with a heart that knows no boundaries. And that’s her greatest accomplishment of all." — Dwayne Johnson

"Lindsey’s twenty-year career in professional skiing is a testament to what it takes to relentlessly pursue greatness. She rose to the top of her sport and had incredible longevity in the face of countless setbacks, not only persevering but also succeeding at the highest level. This memoir is an honest and inspirational story of the sacrifice, hard work, and adversity she faced, and embodies what it means to be a true champion." — Tom Brady

"Lindsey has overcome many injuries and setbacks in her career and always fought her way back. Despite what she went through, she was able to stay at the top of her sport for over a decade. Her story is inspirational, not just for athletes like myself, but to anyone facing an obstacle in life." — Roger Federer

"Lindsey Vonn is the embodiment of what it means to be More Than an Athlete. She is someone who not only spent more than twenty years dominating and elevating her sport, but also empowering and uplifting women’s sports and everyone around her while doing it. In the process, she’s transcended sports to become one of the greatest athletes of her time and also one of the best in business. She’s been incredibly smart and creative in her dealmaking and partner choices, which has helped forge a path that all athletes can follow." — Maverick Carter

"This memoir deserves a gold medal. Honest and inspiring, the story of a little girl who grows up to discover that bravery in life is harder than hurling yourself down an icy mountain slope at eighty miles per hour, that friendship is more precious than fame, and that one-upping your past self and learning every single day is the ultimate competition. I literally couldn’t read anything else until I finished it." — Angela Duckworth, author of Grit

"To be a downhill champion you must love the adrenaline, the speed, and all of the danger that comes with it. Lindsey’s full-throttle approach led her to immense success but also incredible defeats. She overcame it all while staying true to herself and changing the sport in the process. Her grit and determination helped her to become one of the greatest skiers of all time, but she’s only just getting started." — Jean-Claude Killy

Lindsey Vonn is a true American icon in the world of sports and will be remembered as one of, if not the greatest, of all time. But more important than her historic accomplishments, the Lindsey I’ve become close with is a good, solid human being with a heart that knows no boundaries. And that’s her greatest accomplishment of all.

I know the feeling of cold, early mornings and freezing, late-night practices. Lindsey’s story from skiing tiny Minnesota hills to towering Colorado mountains strikes a chord in anyone who’s been told they don’t fit the mold. Rise demonstrates the importance of setting yourself apart to change the game—how the game is played, how to improve the game, and how to use your platform for those coming after you.

This memoir deserves a gold medal. Honest and inspiring, the story of a little girl who grows up to discover that bravery in life is harder than hurling yourself down an icy mountain slope at eighty miles per hour, that friendship is more precious than fame, and that one-upping your past self and learning every single day is the ultimate competition. I literally couldn’t read anything else until I finished it.

Lindsey Vonn is the embodiment of what it means to be More Than An Athlete. She is someone who not only spent more than twenty years dominating and elevating her sport, but also empowering and uplifting women’s sports and everyone around her while doing it. In the process, she’s transcended sports to become one of the greatest athletes of her time and also one of the best in business. She’s been incredibly smart and creative in her dealmaking and partner choices, which has helped forge a path that all athletes can follow.

Lindsey’s twenty-year career in professional skiing is a testament to what it takes to relentlessly pursue greatness. She rose to the top of her sport and had incredible longevity in the face of countless setbacks, not only persevering but also succeeding at the highest level. This memoir is an honest and inspirational story of the sacrifice, hard work, and adversity she faced, and embodies what it means to be a true champion.

Lindsey Vonn’s story is an unfiltered, honest look at the mountains that need conquering for a female athlete to forge her own path, no matter how good she is. Powerful and evocative, Rise showcases Lindsey’s achievements on the hill and her emotional work off of it.

Lindsey has overcome many injuries and setbacks in her career and always fought her way back. Despite what she went through, she was able to stay at the top of her sport for over a decade. Her story is inspirational, not just for athletes like myself, but to anyone facing an obstacle in life.

To be a downhill champion you must love the adrenaline, the speed, and all of the danger that comes with it. Lindsey’s full-throttle approach led her to immense success but also incredible defeats. She overcame it all while staying true to herself and changing the sport in the process. Her grit and determination helped her to become one of the greatest skiers of all time, but she’s only just getting started.

01/01/2022

Even those who don't know anything about skiing have likely heard Vonn's (Strong Is the New Beautiful) name. One of the most successful skiers ever, she won a gold medal in downhill at the 2010 Olympics (the first downhill gold for an American woman); Vonn has 20 World Cup titles (more than any other alpine skier) and the sport's second highest super ranking. In this memoir, Vonn recalls her happy middle-class childhood in Minnesota and how her supportive family moved to Vail, CO, so she could train. In personable writing, she shares insights on training, injuries, and the dynamic of the U.S. Ski Team (she suggests that some skiers received preferential treatment and recalls the objections when she wanted to use men's skis and compete against men and being criticized when she posed for Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue). She's had personal relationships with a number of famous athletes, but Vonn doesn't name names here; readers seeking a celebrity tell-all should look elsewhere. VERDICT A thoughtful and entertaining examination of a top skier's life and career. Those who enjoy memoirs and sports biographies will want to add this title to their reading list.—Susan Belsky

2021-11-03
The American alpine skier and former Olympian remembers the struggles and triumphs that marked her storied career.

Vonn was just 2 1/2 when her father first put her on skis. She tried other sports, but she discovered that no other activity came close to giving her the “speed, the power, the adrenaline [rush]” she adored. A hometown encounter with Olympic ski champion Picabo Street inspired Vonn deeply enough that by age 9 she declared her intent to ski in the 2002 Olympics. While her father steered her career, her family moved to Colorado so that Vonn could enroll in the best ski racing programs. Vonn gave up the social life other teens took for granted only to find that coaches dismissed her in favor of students like future fellow Olympian Julia Mancuso. Vonn used this lack of belief to fuel the relentless drive that saw her make the 2002 Olympic team. Still, despite this achievement, coaches continued to underestimate her abilities. Facing self-doubt and a host of personal problems, including depression and her parents’ unexpected divorce, Vonn fought her way to the World Cup circuit, which she dominated for more than a decade. But even as she won, Vonn faced new challenges. Some involved dealing with sexism in both the media and in the skiing world itself. Others involved her body and the many, sometimes devastating injuries that eventually ended her career. “I had tried—was still trying—everything I could,” she writes, “but I had reached a point where it was like I was skiing on one leg.” Vonn’s memoir is admirable not only for the way it portrays her ruthless will to succeed, but also for how it eschews “juicy gossip” about a much-publicized past. Fans of women’s sports and especially skiing will no doubt find the book satisfying.

A grittily candid memoir.