Lindsey Vonn‘s mother, Linda Lindy Anne Lund, has died one year after being diagnosed with ALS.
A rep for the 37-year-old Olympic gold medalist confirmed the news. “Lindsey Vonn’s mother, Lindy Anne Lund, passed away Thursday night from ALS, exactly one year to the day of her diagnosis,” the statement said. “ALS is a devastating disease and one that has not yet found a cure.”
The statement added that Vonn “was incredibly grateful for the time she spent with her since the diagnosis and to be there by her side at her passing. In honor of her mother’s relentless fighting spirit, Lindsey is dedicated to learning more and helping bring additional awareness to this deadly disease.” Donations in Lund’s honor are encouraged through a GoFundMe page.
The athlete also went to Instagram on Saturday to share a gallery of photos and a touching tribute to her mother. “My sweet mother Lindy has lost her battle with ALS,” she wrote. “She passed away peacefully as I held her hand.”
The Olympian continued, “I am so grateful for every moment I had with her, but I am also thankful that she is no longer suffering and in peace. She was a shining light that will never fade, and I will forever be inspired by her.”
Photos in the carousel showed the mother-daughter duo throughout the years, from sweet throwbacks of Vonn as a child to more recent pictures of both of them.
Also in the tribute, Lindsey Vonn posted an excerpt from her memoir, which she described as “unfortunately fitting.”
“This book is dedicated to my mother,” read the excerpt. “She is my inspiration not because of what she did for my skiing career, but how her perpetual positivity shaped me into the person I am on, and most importantly, off the slopes. Every adversity I have faced, I found perspective and inspiration from her. Throughout the many hardships in her life, they only made her stronger, kinder, and more humble. That type of grit is what shaped me since I was a child; whether I knew it then or not, I know it now.”
Lindsey Vonn also posted a recent picture of her and her mother on her Instagram Story, writing “My beautiful mother is in heaven now.”