Three-time Olympian Lindsey Vonn will request permission to compete against men at an upcoming ski event.
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, on the behalf of Vonn, will submit a formal proposal seeking permission to let Vonn participate in the men’s portion of the 2018 FIS World Cup, ESPN reported.
Vonn, who won a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics, previously tried in 2012 to compete against men, but was denied.
“I know I’m not going to win [against men], but I would like to at least have the opportunity to try,” Vonn told the Denver Post in January. “I think I’ve won enough World Cups where I should have enough respect within the industry to be able to have that opportunity.”
An executive of the International Ski Federation (FIS) expressed doubt that Vonn would be allowed this time.
“It will be a very difficult challenge to find a reasonable way of doing this,” FIS director Atle Skaardal said in June. “If the ladies are allowed to race with the men, then also the men need to be authorized to ski with the ladies. And I’m not sure this is a direction we want to go. It’s a difficult topic.”
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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