Vonn ready to return to gym after TV appearance

Olympic gold medal winning ski racer Lindsey Vonn took a break from her intense schedule of red carpet appearances today (May 13)  to take part in a special teleconference to talk about her up-coming role in NBC’s hit crime drama Law and Order’s season finale.

Vonn’s star has been on the rise since pulling in the downhill gold medal at the Vancouver Games in February. Since earning her first Olympic medal, the three-time World Cup overall winner has been on more TV screens, product labels and red carpets then ever before. The 25-year-old has recently traded in her speed suit for a nightgown, attending the 2010 Met Costume Institute Gala Exhibition, presenting an award at the Country Music Awards and rubbing shoulders with some of the most famous names in the nation at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner. Her image has graced packaging for both Red Bull energy drinks and Wheaties cereal. Vonn has also been busy recording commercials for Under Armour while keeping her more than 140,000 Facebook fans up to date on all her travels. 

Though it is a small speaking role, Vonn jumped at a chance to appear in what she says is her favorite show. But once the cameras were rolling, the nerves set in.

“I was completely shaking, but I had a grin from ear-to-ear,” said Vonn. “I was supposed to be a serious character that is ratting out her boss, and I just couldn’t stop smiling.  I think the producer was scratching his head a little bit.

“All the other actors were able to joke around between takes and then as soon as they called, `Action,’ they were serious.  I was still just smiling.  I don’t know if I did a great job.”

Vonn, disguised in business clothes and glasses, plays the role of an administrative assistant at the Teachers Union of New York, who gives the show’s detectives a tip in their latest case.

Vonn plans to return to her extreme work out schedule in preparation for next season the same day the show airs (Monday, May 24 at 10 PM ET).
 
“I’ll hit the gym and begin my 6-day-a-week, 6-hour-a-day training program,” said Vonn. “We start on-snow training in the beginning of August in New Zealand.”

Though the Minnesota native enjoyed her time in front of the camera, she won’t be quitting her day job anytime soon.

“I can’t imagine myself doing anything else but skiing, at least for the moment,” said Vonn. “Skiing is my passion.”

After filming the episode, Vonn got a chance to send time with her on-screen heroes while they tried on her Olympic medals.

“I was standing there with my favorite characters, hanging out with my Olympic medals,” she said.  “It was definitely a surreal moment.”

Image by Under Armour, Inc.