The International Ski Federation (FIS) is set to decide in the next few days whether the most successful female ski racer of all time, Lindsey Vonn, be allowed to race in a Men’s World Cup race.
The FIS will discuss the request, officially made by the United States Ski and Snowboard team, at a pre-season meeting in Zurich on October 3 and 4.
The U.S. Ski Team’s Lindsey Vonn (U.S. Ski Team/Doug Haney)
Vonn, who has 77 World Cup victories, previously made the same request five years ago in 2012, but was turned down.
In a statement from the FIS the organisation stated, “…this is certainly an anticipated topic that divides the FIS officials.”
In an interview with People magazine Vonn said she trained with the men and could not see why she could not race with them, she said it was something she wanted to do for herself.
If the application is successful Vonn will most likely compete in the season opening Men’s Downhill race at Lake Louise in Canada.
Women competing in a men’s ski competition is not unprecedented in downhill ski racing history, in the early years of the sport there were mixed gender races.
There are also other sports, such as horse racing, where men and women compete together.
Vonn also told People her aim was to break the overall downhill medals record but that her main focus this winter was the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. The 32 year old confirmed she planned to race for at least two more seasons.
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