When Lindsey Vonn was just 9 years old, she had a life-changing encounter with Olympic ski racer Picabo Street at an autograph signing in a small ski shop in Minneapolis. “It was like meeting a superhero in real life,” Vonn tells PEOPLE.
“Those two minutes changed my perspective and made me want to be an Olympian. I think little things can make a big impact and help change a life.”
Now, at 32, Vonn is a celebrated Olympic gold medalist and holds more World Cup titles than any skier in history. She is dedicated to making a similar impact on young girls through her foundation, launched last year.
As one of PEOPLE’s 25 Women Changing the World featured in this week’s issue, Vonn is focused on empowering the next generation of women beyond the slopes.
“I want to empower young girls and inspire them in as many ways as we can,” she says. “We try and help them gain confidence and pursue dreams even when people tell them they can’t.”
Through the Lindsey Vonn Foundation, the athlete reaches girls in various ways, including camps, scholarships, speaker series, and educational programs.
“I want to give girls hope,” says Lindsey Vonn, who takes pride in being actively involved with her foundation’s programs. “All girls can be inspired. Maybe you’re getting bullied in school, or you’re not confident, or you have a coach or a teacher who tells you you’re not good enough.
“We want to help change that path and help them believe in themselves so they see there’s another way. Sometimes it takes just a small gesture to help girls deal with their world better.”
Vonn has already been touched by the personal success stories that have emerged from her foundation. “I met one girl who had some pretty major depression issues and was hurting herself,” she recalls.
“She went to our speaker series, and she’s not hurting herself anymore. She feels more confident. Those are the kinds of stories that I love hearing because we’re making a difference.”
For the Olympian, helping others is a responsibility she embraces and plans to continue long after she’s hung up her skis.
She says, “While I want to be known as the greatest skier of all time, I also want my legacy to be about giving back as much as I can.”
