Iran’s Alpine women’s skiing coach expressed deep admiration for American star Lindsey Vonn ahead of the skier’s dramatic crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics, calling her a “superhero” and saying she hoped to trade pins with her.
Speaking to The Associated Press in the Olympic Village in Cortina before the downhill race, coach Mitra Kalhor praised Vonn’s strength and resilience, noting she had met the three-time Olympic medalist previously at world championships. Kalhor said she would have loved to receive one of Vonn’s pins, highlighting the Olympic spirit of friendship that often transcends political tensions between countries such as Iran and the United States.
That sense of camaraderie was reflected in the long-standing Olympic tradition of pin trading, which has been especially vibrant in Cortina. Kalhor revealed that Iran’s national pins had become surprisingly popular among athletes and officials, despite the country never having won a Winter Olympics medal and fielding a very small delegation. Starting the Games with around 30 pins, she had nearly run out within days as athletes from many nations sought them out.
Kalhor said she was moved by the enthusiasm, admitting she never expected others to be so eager to trade for Iran’s pin. American bobsledder Boone Niederhofer even went searching for an Iranian athlete specifically because of the pin’s rarity, underscoring its appeal.
After Vonn crashed during the women’s downhill while racing on an injured knee, Kalhor said her heart broke for the American skier, again describing her as “super strong.”
By Thursday, Kalhor gave away her final Iranian pin to an Italian security guard without receiving one in return. She said she was delighted that all her pins were gone so early in the Games, seeing it as proof that they were loved by everyone and that the Olympic tradition of connection was alive and well.
Be the first to comment