Olympic ski champ Vonn to be named PyeongChang 2018 honorary ambassador

SEOUL, May 4 (Yonhap) -- Olympic alpine skiing champion Lindsey Vonn will be appointed an honorary ambassador for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games, organizers said Monday.

The PyeongChang organizing committee said the U.S. skier will be the first international athlete to be named an honorary spokesperson for the first Winter Games to be held in South Korea.

Other current and former athletes serving in the role are Olympic figure skating champ Kim Yu-na, former Olympic speed skater Lee Kyou-hyuk and Major League Baseball outfielder Choo Shin-soo.

Vonn will be formally introduced at a press conference on Wednesday in Seoul.

Vonn, 30, is among the most decorated skiers in history. She won the gold medal in downhill at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, becoming the first American woman to do so. She also has two world titles, four overall World Cup titles and 67 individual World Cup victories.

Earlier Monday, Vonn said on her Facebook page that she has ended her high-profile relationship with golfer Tiger Woods after almost three years, citing their "incredibly hectic lives."

Vonn missed the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, with a right knee injury, and returned to competition last December.

jeeho@yna.co.kr
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