When you think of Lindsey Vonn, you probably see a blur of speed on a vertical sheet of ice. You think of the 82 World Cup wins, the Olympic gold, and that terrifying "win or crash" mentality that defined an entire era of alpine skiing. But there is this other side of her career that people still can't stop talking about: the Lindsey Vonn Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue appearances.
It wasn't just about a world-class athlete putting on a bikini. Honestly, it was a decade-long transformation that mirrored her own journey from a nervous 25-year-old to a retired legend who finally felt comfortable in her own skin.
The 2010 Debut: Nervous in the Snow
Back in 2010, the world was obsessed with Vonn's dominance leading up to the Vancouver Olympics. That was the year she made her first appearance in the magazine. It’s kinda funny looking back because they actually shot her in the snow in Whistler, Canada. Warwick Saint was the photographer, and while she was literally on her home turf, Vonn later admitted she was "pretty nervous."
Most people assume these superstar athletes are just naturally confident in front of a camera, but she wasn't. She struggled with her body image. At the time, being "strong" wasn't always celebrated in the same way "skinny" was in the fashion world.
That 2010 issue also sparked a massive debate. You might remember the cover where she was in a "tuck" position. Critics went wild, claiming it sexualized a professional athlete. But for Vonn, it was the start of a mindset shift. She said being in the magazine actually helped her see herself in a more positive light. It wasn't just about the photos; it was about proving that a powerful, muscular body belonged in that space.
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The Body Paint Breakthrough of 2016
Six years later, things got way more intense. In 2016, Vonn returned for the "Athletes in Body Paint" feature. This wasn't just a swimsuit—it was literally nothing but paint applied by the legendary Joanne Gair.
The shoot took place in Petit Saint Vincent in the Grenadines. Frederic Pinet was the photographer, and the "suit" was a Missoni-inspired design that took about 15 hours to apply. Think about that for a second. Standing there for 15 hours while someone paints your skin.
Vonn was actually training during the shoot. There's this famous behind-the-scenes clip of her doing pull-ups on a beach pavilion while wearing nothing but the paint. It was the ultimate "strong is beautiful" moment. She was 31 then, and you could see the difference in her eyes compared to 2010. She wasn't the nervous girl in the snow anymore. She was a woman who knew she was the best in the world.
Puerto Vallarta and the 2019 Retirement Lap
The final chapter of the Lindsey Vonn Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue saga happened in 2019. This one felt different because it came right as she was hanging up her skis for good.
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They flew to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with photographer Walter Chin. Vonn joined other heavy hitters like Simone Biles and Paige VanZant. This shoot was basically her victory lap. She looked incredibly relaxed, wearing neutral-colored bikinis and literally glowing on the beach.
"Third time's a charm," she said at the time. She talked a lot about how she had finally stopped caring what the trolls thought. By this point, she’d had more knee surgeries than most people have teeth, and she was proud of the scars. She wanted the photos to show the real her—the retired version who was finally at peace with her body.
Why It Still Matters Today
We are now in 2026, and Vonn is still making headlines. Just recently, for her 41st birthday, SI dropped a bunch of throwback photos that went viral all over again.
But why do we care?
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Basically, it's because Vonn broke the mold. She wasn't a "model-turned-athlete"; she was a fierce competitor who demanded to be seen as multifaceted. She proved you could be the "Americas Best Woman Skier Ever" and still want to feel glamorous.
What You Can Learn from Vonn's Journey
- Confidence is a slow burn. It took Vonn three separate shoots over nine years to actually feel "confident" in the photos.
- Strength is a look. She helped bridge the gap between "athletic" and "fashionable," making it okay for girls to want muscles.
- Scars are part of the story. In her 2019 shoot, she didn't hide the reality of her injuries; she embraced the "before surgery" and "after surgery" versions of herself.
If you’re looking for the actual photos, the Sports Illustrated archive is the only place to get the high-res versions from all three years—2010, 2016, and 2019. It’s worth looking at them chronologically just to see the evolution. You can really see her grow up in front of the lens.
If you want to understand the impact of these shoots, look at the "Athletes in Body Paint" behind-the-scenes footage on YouTube. It shows the sheer endurance required for those 15-hour sessions, which is arguably as much of a physical feat as a day on the slopes. From there, you can track her recent 2024-2025 "historic comeback" to skiing, where she proved at age 40 that her body is still capable of breaking records.