U.S. skier at the center of Winter Olympics
If ever there was an “It Girl” for the United States’ efforts at the upcoming Winter Olympics, skier Lindsey Vonn fits the profile.
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With an avalanche of expectations — including a Sports Illustrated cover with the headline “America’s Best Woman Skier Ever” — Vonn has an opportunity to capture five gold medals in Vancouver.
The trophies have piled up and the subsequent momentum that’s followed is as strong as ever. Vonn, 25, has won 31 races in World Cup competition, including nine this season — matching her own record. She is the only U.S. woman to win two World Cup titles, having been victorious in each of the last two years. And she won a pair of races — downhill and super-G — at last year’s world championships in Val d’Isere, France.
All of her talents — not to mention her good looks — have placed Vonn at the center of NBC’s marketing campaign for the two-week event.
“I think for me, I try to be a good role model,” she said. “I try to represent the Olympic spirit and maybe that’s what NBC saw in me and that’s the reason that they did that.”
That spirit can be seen in successes on the slopes and in her rigorous summer workouts in Austria.
“She works harder than anybody,” said USA Ski and Snowboard Association President and CEO Bill Marolt. “She competes at the very highest level; she gets phenomenal results. But when it’s all said and done, she understands her role.”
That spirit can also be seen in resiliency — an ability to overcome injuries.
At the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, Vonn was a heavy favorite in the downhill event until she crashed hard during a training run. With bruises, she took part in the downhill just two days later, finishing eighth, and eventually raced in the super-G and slalom.
More recently, Vonn sustained a bruised arm after a crash during the opening run of the World Cup giant slalom. Despite the ailments, she won three straight races from Jan. 8-10, vaulting her into second place on the all-time World Cup wins list.
“My arm is doing okay,” Vonn said. “It’s getting better every day. It’s just not perfect yet. … So I think that things are going to be fine for all the speed disciplines, but it’ll be difficult again for the slalom.”
The praise coming Vonn’s way has been significant.
“I’m rooting for her,” U.S. skier Steve Nyman said. “All year long it’s been really fun to watch her. She’s just really calm, professional, gets the stuff done.”
Pretty soon, the Olympic medals could follow.
