Lindsey Vonn Takes Bronze; Set to Host SNL?

by CSP Staff Writer

America’s winter sweetheart has played her part at the Vancouver games – a gold medal in the downhill and today, a bronze in the super G, and still 2 events remaining.  While all USA fans were pulling for Vonn to dominate all of her signature events,  it is safe to say that Vonn’s shin has moderately limited her.

Vonn has clearly transcended her sport, broadening the Olympic audience proving that she is more than just another athlete competing for the gold. Right after she crashed during her 2^nd race in the super combined, she was asked to comment on Tiger Woods’ statement, given Friday morning.  She responded by saying “Tiger, you’re like my idol, and I too have a sex problem.”

She went on to imagine a hilarious Saturday Night Live sketch, parodying Woods’ antics.  Her sex appeal and charisma, combined with her strong performance this year, has sparked a rumor that she will be hosting Saturday Night Live shortly after the Olympics.

Vonn’s momentum could take her down a very green course, earnings-wise that is.  She is gorgeous, has personality, popularity, and of course already one Olympic Gold Medal.  Take Micheal Phelps in 2008 – after his 8 medals in the Beijing Olympics he landed numerous endorsements, hosted SNL, and is worth about $50 million. Why?  Simply put, America loves a winner.

Now consider Vonn, an athlete who has been talked about weeks before her first run in Vancouver, with an injury making her story even juicer.  With existing endorsements with Under Armour, Red Bull, Head, and Proctor & Gamble, and about $350,000 in prize money, she netted over $2.5 million last year, all before her first Olympic medal.  According to Forbes, her presence this year makes her worth about double this year, and that’s without accounting for her gold and bronze medals this year.

The 2010 games are going to propel Vonn full force into American households.  The combination of skill, perseverence, looks and popularity will most certainly spark Vonn to become a household name.