Olympic skier responds to 'body-shaming' comments after she posted bikini pictures on social media

Since the internet is the way it is, even Olympic athletes are body-shamed.

Former alpine skier, Lindsey Vonn, shared an empowering Instagram post condemning body-shaming in the comments of her recent unfiltered photos from a holiday in the Bahamas.

Vonn won a gold medal in alpine skiing at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and became the first American woman to do so. She has also won four World Cup championships.

In her post, the athlete opened up about how the negative comments have impacted her:

I’ve posted quite a few swimsuit pics lately, which is scarier than it seems. Even as an athlete there are ruthless comments and media stories that tear apart my body and I admit it sometimes hurts me. I’m a normal person and sometimes I slouch, my stomach folds over, my cellulite shows on my butt, or I don’t fill out my swimsuit top just right. But, I always remember how my body has helped me achieve amazing things in my life and I am proud of how strong I am.

She also stressed that she takes pride in her unfiltered Instagram feed:

One thing I can promise all of you is that I never Photoshop my photos and am proud to officially never had any plastic surgery of any kind. No Botox, no fillers, no mini surgeries. Literally nothing. I am 100% natural and 100% Lindsey.

Alongside her swimsuit photos, Vonn shared screenshots of the numerous comments attacking her for her appearance. Vonn's Instagram post shows the unrealistic expectations athletes are put under to look superhuman, as if her many achievements aren't enough.

She added that she’s “not a size zero and that’s perfectly fine with me” and encouraged her followers who may also be feeling conscious about their body to “love yourself no matter what the haters say”.

It’s a much needed reminder that Olympic athletes are as human as the rest of us.