U.S. Dominates Women’s Downhill
Lindsey Vonn said her shin hurt all 2,939 meters of the women's downhill course Wednesday, but she felt pure joy at the end. Vonn won the gold medal and U.S. teammate Julia Mancuso took the silver.
"I was in a lot of pain today," said Vonn, the first U.S. woman to win the Olympic downhill. "This is probably the bumpiest course I have ever run, and that's probably the worst thing you can have for a shin injury. But I was focused and determined and tried not to think about it.”
On a clear, cold day at Whistler Creekside with 6,005 fans cheering and ringing cowbells, a high-speed right turn called “Frog Bank," wiped out the first skier, Kiara Krizova of Czech Republic.
Mancuso, the 10th skier, put down a fast run that was almost certain to be a medal-winner, but which one?
Vonn, racing 16th, immediately made up ground on Mancuso and finished in 1 minute, 44.19 seconds.
"When I crossed the finish line, I saw my name No. 1 and I was completely overwhelmed," she said, "I collapsed and it was one of the best feelings I've ever had in my life.
"The pressure for me is gone," Vonn said. "I got exactly what I came here to get, a gold medal, Everyone expected me to do it, but it's not as easy as saying you can do it. There's a lot more work to it."
Goergl is a second-generation Olympic bronze medalist. Her mother, Traudl Hecher, won the bronze in 1960 and 1964.
The highly-technical course was a bumpy ride, and six competitors crashed, including Edith Miklos of Romania, starting 35th, who was airlifted off the mountain by helicopter.
Spectators watched all but about five seconds of the race on the giant video monitor. Racerscould be seen coming around a bend, then coming off the final jump into the finish area.
New Vantage Point for Legacy Cauldron
VANOC bowed to public and media pressure late Tuesday and allowed better access to the exterior Olympic cauldron beside the International Broadcast Centre.
Chainlink fences and barriers were moved closer to the glass and steel sculpture on Jack Poole Plaza and a viewing deck was opened so people can take unobstructed photographs.
The fencing will come down after Olympics and the cauldron will remain as a landmark.
Asian Representation Sought in Ceremonies
Chinese and South Asian community members in Vancouver asked to meet with VANOC to discuss their lack of representation in the opening ceremony.
VANOC chief John Furlong said the Feb. 28 closing ceremony would better reflect Canadian multiculturalism.
“We had a goal to tell a story and at the closing ceremony we will have a very certain kind of celebration,” Furlong said. “I don't think (there will be) any doubt when the ceremonies are over who we are and who's here in terms of our country."
Home Town Grieves Georgia Luger
The casket containing the body of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili has reached his hometown of Bakuriani.
Kumaritashvili, 21, was killed during a training run last Friday when he flew off his sled and struck a steel pillar at the track in Whistler.
Reports from Bakuriani say his mother threw herself on the casket as it headed to his family home in western Georgia.
He will be buried Saturday.
Written by Ed Hula.
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