PYEONGCHANG, South Korea: US speed queen Lindsey Vonn insisted she would not get sentimental about what will likely be her last Olympic downhill on Wednesday, saying instead she felt like “a million bucks” going into the blue riband event.
Vonn, 33, won the 2010 downhill title in Vancouver, but missed Sochi through injury. Her outing in the super-G in Pyeongchang, won by Czech snowboard crossover Ester Ledecka, saw her finish sixth after a big mistake at the bottom of the course cost her at least a podium spot.
“I feel like a million bucks,” the upbeat American said after a second training run on the 2.8km-long Jeongseon course.Austrian Stephanie Venier topped times with 1min 39.75sec, just ahead of Italian Sofia Goggia and Vonn, who eased up coming through the line to finish third.
Vonn has vowed to keep skiing next season in a bid to better Ingemar Stenmark’s World Cup record of 86 victories, but has said it’s highly unlikely she’ll make the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
“I’m trying not to think about it,” she said. “I’m trying to enjoy literally every second here and enjoy the time with my team.“I’ve tried not to think of it as my last Olympic downhill, just focus on the moment, the right here and the right now. I think later I’ll reflect on how much my teammates and my coaches made it special for me.
“You can’t get too sentimental right now because I still have to race and I still have to be focused. Afterwards I’ll do some reflecting.”All-or-nothing Goggia is a close friend of Vonn’s, and the Italian has shown some fine form on the circuit this season, with two victories and two second places in the downhill, and also second and third placings in the super-G.But the Italian said: “Vonn’s definitely the favourite, she has so much experience.“The favourite is the one who builds the victory before racing in the best way.”
