There are no participation trophies at the Winter Games, only medals. Nobody knows that better than Lindsey Vonn, who finished off the podium in the super-G on Saturday in South Korea. After the race was over, Vonn took to Twitter to express her frustration for the outcome of the race.
Frustrating to be so close to the podium and to have made such a big mistake...but that’s ski racing. I’m proud of the way I skied and how I attacked the course. I gave it my all and came up short. That’s life. Now it’s on to the Downhill! 💪🏻
— lindsey vonn (@lindseyvonn) February 17, 2018
In response to the tweet, Vonn's timeline was filled with thousands of responses. The skiing star -- who has been critical of Donald Trump -- found user after user mocking her for the finish, with many referencing "karma" for her poor finish. In December, Vonn said that she was hoping to ski "for the people ... not the president" at the Winter Olympics, a comment that drew the ire of quite a few supporters of the president. Apparently, that frustration hasn't dissipated.
Your president was watching. You let him down. Karma
— Kris S (@kscctx) February 17, 2018
You don’t stand for our President? We don’t stand for you. #StandByOurPresident #WeAreMiddleClass #GetOffYourHighHorse
— patriot jewel (@jewel_patriot) February 17, 2018
Maybe you should have focused on your sport more instead of foolishly bashing our American President right before the Olympics...
— James Wehner (@JimWehner) February 17, 2018
How sad an un-American like you represents our country. God bless our beloved @POTUS & @FLOTUS. You? Not at all. #NoDACA #FireSalcido #BoycottTheView #BoycottNFL #BoycottMacys
— Mrs. JL Young (@JackieAgain) February 17, 2018
Arrogant princess @lindseyvonn was given a sponsorship deal by @Hersheys chocolate
— Book Typhoon (@BookTyphoon) February 17, 2018
If you think Lindsey Vonn is the Jane Fonda of sports, you can boycott Hersheys Chocolate.
Please RT#MAGA
Next time leave the Politics out of sports !! KARMA always bites back 👍😆💩
— ANNORA11 (@AnilNS425) February 17, 2018
Hey Lindsey- maybe u should focus on your skiing instead of disrespecting our President and being unpatriotic. U think there is a connection between that and u losing? I do. MAGA
— Hardino (@Mjhardino71) February 17, 2018
To be fair, there were plenty of supporters who came out in defense of Vonn and who took issue with the pro-Trump commenters gloating in a star American athlete's disappointing result.
Forget about it... focus on what’s next, don’t overthink it.
— Dennis Walker (@thunderchild75) February 17, 2018
So much hate. I hope this is just your twitter persona and that you’re trying to make the country a better place for the next generation. There is a big difference btwn all of us that can make America Great and the embarrassment in the Oval Office.
— Ben Z (@zenben) February 17, 2018
You’ll kill it at the downhill. You got this
— Andrew Gillenwater (@thatdudeandrew9) February 17, 2018
You could say the same about life. May we all have the poise, grace and ability to pull ourselves up that you have. You are a hero.
— Ed Asner (@TheOnlyEdAsner) February 17, 2018
Soccer legend Julie Foundy, a former star for the United States Women's National Team, voiced her frustration with the backlash at Vonn.
I just spent last 20 min's reading thru tweets directed at @lindseyvonn. Sickened & disgusted once again by the lack of humanity that engulfs our country. She just raced her damn heart out & Trump supporters gloat/cheer/celebrate her inability to medal. Is this what we've become?
— Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) February 17, 2018
Which Vonn responded to in kind.
It’s ok Julie. Not everyone has to like me but my family loves me and I sleep well at night. I work hard and try to be the best person I can be. If they don’t like me 🤷🏼♀️ their loss I guess... Thank you for the support🙏🏻❤️ https://t.co/EaySJE7QAe
— lindsey vonn (@lindseyvonn) February 17, 2018
Vonn followed up the tweetstorm against her with another one, saying that she'll get better.
Tomorrow is another day and another opportunity to become better. Goodnight ❤️🙏🏻
— lindsey vonn (@lindseyvonn) February 17, 2018
Vonn will race for a gold medal in her best event, the downhill, on Wednesday in South Korea -- Tuesday night in the United States -- and she could also compete in the combined. There's still a great chance that she could come home with a medal, which might just shut the Twitter trolls up.