How do we choose the greatest female skiers of all time? So many of them have excelled on the World Cup circuit, but when it came down to that single one- or two-minute lifetime performance before a global TV audience they’ve not been able to deliver. The real stars have won medals across as many as three successive Games. Below is The Top 6 greatest female skiers.

1. LINDSAY VONN

In terms of FIS (International Ski Federation) World Cup events, there’s really only one contender – Lindsey Vonn. The American, who is still competing to this day, has 81 victories to her name, which is almost 20 more than the nearest competitor. She’s one of the few women to have won races in all five disciplines and she also has an Olympic gold and two bronze medals under her belt.

2. JANICA KOSTELIĆ

When it comes to the Olympics themselves, Janica Kostelić is the clear frontrunner. Still the only woman to have four gold medals to her name and three in a single Olympics (Salt Lake City, 2002), Kostelić also has two silvers. Unfortunately, she was prevented from defending her medals in 2010 by a recurrent knee and thyroid injury.

3.TINA MAZE

Tina Maze is the most successful Slovenian skier in history, with a career that culminated in two gold medals at Sochi in 2014, to add to the two silvers she won at Vancouver and four world titles. Perhaps her greatest achievement was away from the Olympics in 2013 when she scored the record for the most points in a single season, among either men or women. Tina Maze specialised in all disciplines.

4. Annemarie Moser-Pröll

This woman is one of the most consistent skiers of all-time. She has won 6 overall world cup titles and 3 second places from 1971 to 1980. This is the most world cup overall titles ever by a women. She also won 4 world championships and 2 bronze medals. She didn’t win the Olympic games until the end of her career in 1980 but she finished her career on a high by winning the Olympic games downhill competition. She is third all-time in world cup wins with 62 and she meant a lot for the popularity of the sport in the seventies.

5. Vreni Schneider

Widely considered the second most successful female olympic skier after winning 3 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal at the Olympic Games. She also won the world cup 3 times and managed to win 3 world championship titles. She was chosen Swiss sportswomen of the 20th century and is still considered the best female Swiss skier of all time.

6. Anja Pärson

Pärson could be considered the best female skier at the ski world championships. She started of by winning 4 gold and 2 bronze medals at the Junior World Ski Championships and as a pro she won 7 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze medals at the World Championships. This isn’t the only success she enjoyed on her 15 year long career as she won 2 overall world cup titles and 1 gold, 1 silver and 4 Olympic medals. After her retirement she became an expert commentator on Swedish television. Especially her record at World Championships makes Pärson one of the best female skiers of all time.