Page 7 - MIN SJA 24 OCT 2015
P. 7
A18
SPORTSSaturday 24 October 2015
Vonn skips World Cup opener after 10-week injury layoff
ERIC WILLEMSEN Lindsey Vonn, of the United States, inspects the finish area ahead son. She set a record for the race tomorrow. Impor-
Associated Press of Saturday’s Women’s Giant Slalom Ski World Cup race at the most women’s World Cup tant is now to get the feel-
SOELDEN, Austria (AP) — Rettenbach glacier, in Soelden, Austria, Friday, Oct. 23, 2015. wins and earned her sev- ing back, to get the timing
Lindsey Vonn will skip Satur- enth downhill season title. back, to get a good train-
day’s first race of the Alpine Associated Press The American, who turned ing block in and then she’s
skiing season as she doesn’t 31 Sunday, said her prior- is just going to be ready for
feel confident about the planned to return to the Vonn crashed during a ity was to avoid any risks of Aspen.”
icy conditions on the race World Cup in Aspen for a training camp in New Zea- hurting herself again. Vonn said Thursday she felt
hill, 10 weeks after fractur- giant slalom on Nov. 28 be- land in August, suffering yet “If the snow conditions “awesome” after resuming
ing an ankle bone. fore traveling to Lake Lou- another setback after an were different my decision ski training free of pain, and
The four-time overall World ise for speed races the fol- impressive return from seri- would have been differ- that her left ankle showed
Cup champion returned lowing week. ous knee injuries last sea- ent as well,” she said. “But no reaction and held up “a
successfully to training on at this stage in my career I lot better than I expected,
skis Thursday, but decided suppose it’s better to err on honestly.”
after another practice ses- the side of caution.” Vonn finished third in the
sion Friday not to start in a The U.S. ski team Alpine di- overall standings last sea-
giant slalom on the Retten- rector, Patrick Riml, said it son and is the highest
bach glacier on Saturday. was Vonn’s own decision ranked skier to start in the
“In the few runs I’ve had not to start. new campaign as Austria’s
since returning to snow I “She has been talking with Anna Fenninger (injury)
have felt strong, confident the coaching staff about and Slovenia’s Tina Maze
and been skiing without this but today, she didn’t. (year off) won’t compete.
pain,” she wrote on her She did make that call,” Chasing her fifth big crystal
Facebook page. “How- Riml told The Associated globe, the American could
ever, the icy conditions on Press. “There was no need become the oldest female
the race hill coupled with for us to sit down with her.” skier to win the overall title.
the fact that it’s only been Riml called it “a smart de- The record is held by Swiss
10 weeks since I fractured cision” as “two days (of ski- great Vreni Schneider, who
my ankle makes me slightly ing) is not enough even if was 30 when she last tri-
hesitant.” she’s doing well. In my opin- umphed in 1995.q
The American said she ion she could only lose on
