Lindsey Vonn wins Spirit of Sport award at the 'Oscars of Sport'

    By Ben Church

    Updated 1003 GMT (1803 HKT) February 19, 2019

    The world's greatest female ski racer Lindsey Vonn has officially retired from the sport after her final race at the World Championships in Are. Here's a look back at her glittering career.
    Photos: Skiing's speed queen
    The world's greatest female ski racer Lindsey Vonn has officially retired from the sport after her final race at the World Championships in Are. Here's a look back at her glittering career.
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    She made her Olympic debut at Salt Lake City 2002 as a 17-year-old, finishing 32nd in slalom and sixth in the combined slalom/downhill event.
    Photos: Skiing's speed queen
    She made her Olympic debut at Salt Lake City 2002 as a 17-year-old, finishing 32nd in slalom and sixth in the combined slalom/downhill event.
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    Lindsey Kildow -- as she was then before marrying fellow skier Thomas Vonn -- won her first World Cup race with victory in the downhill at Lake Louise, Canada, in 2004.
    Photos: Skiing's speed queen
    Lindsey Kildow -- as she was then before marrying fellow skier Thomas Vonn -- won her first World Cup race with victory in the downhill at Lake Louise, Canada, in 2004.
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    In 2005, Vonn signed with Red Bull and began working with a completely new coaching team. She seemed set for the start of something special.
    Photos: Skiing's speed queen
    In 2005, Vonn signed with Red Bull and began working with a completely new coaching team. She seemed set for the start of something special.
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    Any momentum from the new deal was slowed during the 2006 Olympics in Italy, though. A fall in practice resulted in a short stay in hospital. She recovered in time to compete but could only manage seventh in the Super G and eighth in the downhill events.
    Photos: Skiing's speed queen
    Any momentum from the new deal was slowed during the 2006 Olympics in Italy, though. A fall in practice resulted in a short stay in hospital. She recovered in time to compete but could only manage seventh in the Super G and eighth in the downhill events.
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    However, Vonn quickly bounced back and won the first of three straight World Cup titles in 2008 at the age of 23.
    Photos: Skiing's speed queen
    However, Vonn quickly bounced back and won the first of three straight World Cup titles in 2008 at the age of 23.
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    Golden girl Vonn achieved her Olympic dreams in 2010. She won the Olympic downhill gold at Whistler and added bronze in the super-G.
    Photos: Skiing's speed queen
    Golden girl Vonn achieved her Olympic dreams in 2010. She won the Olympic downhill gold at Whistler and added bronze in the super-G.
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    Vonn added a fourth World Cup title in 2012, but is still behind Annemarie Moser-Proell's record of six overall crystal globes.
    Photos: Skiing's speed queen
    Vonn added a fourth World Cup title in 2012, but is still behind Annemarie Moser-Proell's record of six overall crystal globes.
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    Vonn's public profile went galactic when she dated star golfer Tiger Woods for two years between 2013 and 2015.
    Photos: Skiing's speed queen
    Vonn's public profile went galactic when she dated star golfer Tiger Woods for two years between 2013 and 2015.
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    In 2013, Vonn suffered an horrific crash at the World Championships in Austria. She underwent reconstructive knee surgery and began a long road to recovery. She attempted to return a year later, only to pull out of the 2014 Olympics after aggravating the injury again.
    Photos: Skiing's speed queen
    In 2013, Vonn suffered an horrific crash at the World Championships in Austria. She underwent reconstructive knee surgery and began a long road to recovery. She attempted to return a year later, only to pull out of the 2014 Olympics after aggravating the injury again.
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    Injuries continued to hamper Vonn. She fractured her left knee in February 2016 in a crash during a World Cup super-G race in Soldeu, Andorra, but raced the combined event the next day before calling an end to her season.
    Photos: Skiing's speed queen
    Injuries continued to hamper Vonn. She fractured her left knee in February 2016 in a crash during a World Cup super-G race in Soldeu, Andorra, but raced the combined event the next day before calling an end to her season.
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