The documentary film opens with a shot of Lindsey Vonn sitting at a kitchen counter. A television is tuned to the 2014 Sochi Olympics as announcer Dan Hicks says:
“It’s a great atmosphere here for the women’s downhill. Now there are a couple of skiers that are missing today, including Lindsey Vonn.”
The television shows Vonn’s moment of victory in the women’s downhill at the 2010 Olympics. In voice-over, Vonn says:
“It’s like rubbing salt in the wound. ‘Who are we going to find to replace Lindsey?’ And, ‘Who’s the next Lindsey?’ It’s frustrating because I’m not dead. I’m still here.”
Thus begins a one-hour documentary titled “Lindsey Vonn: The Climb,” which will be shown Sunday on NBC at 1 p.m. Produced by NFL Films, NBC Olympics and Red Bull Media House, the documentary chronicles her two-year comeback from knee injuries with behind-the-scenes insight into her surgeries, rehabilitation and return to skiing.
The release of the documentary was timed as a setup for the world alpine championships at Beaver Creek on Feb. 2-15, just down the road from Vonn’s home in Vail. Vonn became the winningest woman in World Cup history this week.
“This is the most inside look I’ve ever given to my world,” Vonn said of the documentary in a media release, “and I hope it inspires others who are going through challenges to keep getting back up when they are down.”
Vonn injured her right knee in a crash on the first day of the 2013 world championships in Schladming, Austria. She reinjured it the following November while training at Copper Mountain, forcing her to skip the Sochi Olympics. The documentary includes video of the second crash not seen before by the public.
“Films like this don’t work without transparency, and Lindsey was on board from Day One,” said Steve Trout, NFL Films director. “In ‘The Climb,’ you’ll see Lindsey the daughter, the sister, the friend. And in the roller-coaster ride of her comeback, you’ll see Lindsey in pain, at rock bottom, and her triumphant return to racing.”
There are several scenes with Tiger Woods, talking about his girlfriend and the challenge of her comeback.
“This film,” said NBC Sports Group executive editor Joe Gesue, “is a compelling and very human portrait of an extraordinary athlete fighting pain and uncertainty to regain her place as the dominant figure in one of the most demanding and dangerous sports in the Olympic world.”
John Meyer: 303-954-1616, jmeyer@denverpost.com or
