Another “celebrity” couple is heading for divorce court.  Champion ski racer Lindsey Vonn announced she and her husband of four years are calling it quits.   The 27-year-old United States Olympic gold medalist and her soon-to-be ex-husband, Thomas, have begun divorce proceedings.

Besides losing a spouse, the Olympic athlete is also losing a valuable and trusted partner on the slopes.    Thomas Vonn, a former alpine ski racer with the U.S. Olympic Ski Team who also served as his wife’s coach, driver, equipment manager and all around  “chief of staff,” told the Associated Press he filed for divorce last week.   Lindsey confirmed the news following the World Cup race in Aspen yesterday:

“I am very sad; it’s a very difficult time in my life. I hope that the fans and the media will respect my privacy in this matter.  I will continue to be coached by the U.S. Ski Team and look forward to competing the rest of the season.”

After living together for several years, the couple married in September 2007.   In happier times, Lindsey said:

“Thanks to Thomas I can focus entirely on my sport.  He comes to all my races, he can console me, motivate me or take my mind off things when it’s not going so well.”

So far, there’s been no mention of the split on Lindsey’s Facebook or Twitter pages.

All in all, it was a pretty tough weekend for the beautiful blonde athlete.   After finishing in 12^th place in the Giant Slalom on Saturday, Lindsey opted out of the season-opening World Cup slalom race on Sunday suffering from a sore back.   But she’s expected to hit the slopes this week in Lake Louise, Alberta.

Lindsey Vonn began skiing with her dad and grandpa when she was three years old.  She started racing when she was seven and by the time she was nine, she was racing internationally.  The World Cup champ won several medals during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics – a gold medal in downhill and a bronze medal in the Super G making her the “most winning American female skier of all time.”

Divorce is a painful time for any couple that goes through it, especially during the holidays.  Just imagine having to endure the end of a marriage and the end of a working relationship in the public spotlight.  We wish them both the best.

Image courtesy of Gerwig Loffelholz