Boycotting an Olympics should be up to individual athletes not politicians, says U.S. Alpine skiing great Lindsey Vonn, as calls mount to move or reject the 2022 Beijing Winter Games over China's human rights record.

A four-time Olympian, Vonn's opinion on boycotts has not altered in retirement. She believes the games can be a catalyst for change and spotlighting issues like China's treatment of Uighur Muslims which Washington has called genocide.

"If athletes want to boycott that's their prerogative and their right," Vonn said. "I think one of the great things about the Olympics is that it can shed a lot of light on really important topics, not just about sports."