Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Thursday 22 February 2018
Vonn 3rd in last Olympic DH; her pal Goggia of Italy wins

By HOWARD FENDRICH with a sigh. "I think my in- “I knew I had a competitive
JEONGSEON, South Korea juries made me stronger. time, but I didn’t know if it
(AP) — Lindsey Vonn knew I do. Because I wouldn't would be enough for gold,”
that the bronze medal she be the same person that Goggia said. “You’ve seen
earned Wednesday came I am today. When you're me more excited after a
in her final Olympic down- young, you ski and you third-place World Cup fin-
hill, the signature event of win and you don't appre- ish.”
her singular career. She ciate things. I've been in Vonn went two racers later,
knew that, but she didn't the fence so many times. I the seventh starter overall,
have an easy time process- know so many doctors on and kept losing ground
ing it. a first-name basis that it's throughout.
That's why the words "prob- ridiculous." “I just saw the middle part
ably" and "most likely" kept All of the rehabbing, all of of the run, where I was
slipping into her sentences. the recoveries — all worth standing. It was just a little
Why she marked the occa- it. tentative, a little uncharac-
sion by posing with dozens "Every single meal she's teristic, not quite charging,”
of folks for a group photo eaten for the last two years coach Chris Knight said.
near the finish line. Why is to build up to this mo- Knight thought that know-
she engaged in a series of ment. Every single gym ing this would be the close
warm, lengthy hugs — with workout. You don't realize of Vonn’s Olympic downhill
her sisters; with U.S. coach- the amount of every single career informed her perfor-
es; with the winner, her thing she's done every day mance.
good friend Sofia Goggia for the last eight years has “Realistically speaking, it Gold medal winner Sofia Goggia, left, of Italy, and bronze med-
alist Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, react after the flower
of Italy; with the runner-up, been for this day and that 2 has to play on your mind,” ceremony for the women's downhill at the 2018 Winter Olympics
Ragnhild Mowinckel of Nor- minutes," said Vonn's sister, he said. “You’ve got one in Jeongseon, South Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018.
way. With, seemingly, any- Karin Kildow. "The emotion chance.” q Associated Press
one she could grab ahold of it is kind of overwhelm-
of. ing."
"I wish I could keep going. Afterward, competitors
I wish this wasn't my last spoke glowingly about
Olympics, but it is," Vonn Vonn's influence and leg-
said, looking down at the acy.
snow underfoot and shak- Fifth-place finisher Al-
ing her head, "so I'm trying ice McKennis of the U.S.
to accept that and deal praised Vonn's "day-to-day
with the emotions of that perseverance."
and enjoy the ride." Goggia, who got advice
Goggia finished in 1 min- from Vonn over coffee in
ute, 39.22 seconds, just 0.09 Colorado a few months
seconds faster than Mow- ago, said: "She is the great-
inckel. Vonn was 0.47 sec- est. And she had a wonder-
onds off Goggia's pace. ful career — and she is still
"I came here ... with one 'having,' because it's not
goal: to beat Lindsey," over."
Goggia said. It is not. Vonn will compete
Yes, for years now, Vonn again Thursday, taking on
has been the standard by U.S. teammate Mikaela
which all other female ski Shiffrin in the Alpine com-
racers are judged — and bined . And then comes
judge themselves. And the return to the World Cup
as much as ski racing has circuit and Vonn's pursuit of
meant to Vonn, and as Ingemar Stenmark's record
much as Vonn has meant of 86 race wins.
to her sport, she knows that “She has 140 podiums. Me?
this is, indeed, goodbye. I have 20. She has 81 victo-
She is 33, the oldest wom- ries. I have four. Five, with
an to ever win an Alpine this,” Goggia said with a
medal at a Winter Games. laugh. “But she’s unbeliev-
Vonn's total of three in- able.”
cludes downhill gold and Under a bright sun and on
super-G bronze at Vancou- a course that was not very
ver in 2010. steep, Goggia was better
The American wasn't at So- than anyone at a hill where
chi in 2014, instead "on the she beat Vonn in two World
couch, watching," she said, Cup races last March. This
after two operations to re- time, Goggia was not great
pair torn ligaments in her at the outset, nearly fell
right knee. She's endured a backward while landing a
lengthy list of injuries . jump midway through, then
"It's taken its toll. And that's was terrific on the final third
why I can't keep ski rac- of the course. When her run
ing, you know?" she said ended, she shrugged.