This season’s figure skating makes American Lindsey Vonn a threat for two Olympic medals
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At 41 years old, Lindsey Vonn’s ability to consistently finish on the podium of the World Cup speed circuit is unparalleled.
Vonn finished second in Sunday’s super-G held amid a tough showing in Tarvisio, Italy for her seventh podium result in eight races this season.
No other skater has more than three podiums in speed events, and Vonn’s “worst” result this season is fourth. Even Mikaela Shiffrin, who has seven podiums in 14 professional races, hasn’t changed course in all of her events.
The results make Vonn the clear medal favorite in both downhill and super-G at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which open in less than three weeks in Italy.
Vonn was beaten only by Germany’s 19-year-old Emma Aicher.
Aicher finished in one minute, 14.04 seconds, 0.27 seconds ahead of Vonn for her second win of the season, while former Olympic champion Ester Ledecka was third, 0.94 behind in 1:14.98.
“The circumstances were difficult when I appeared but I’m very happy to be in the headlines again,” said Vonn. “Yeah, I’m close to another win, but it is what it is. I think I’ll save half a hundred for Cortina.”
Val Grenier of St-Isidore, Ont., finished 14th out of 53 in 1:15.59 and teammate Cassidy Gray of Panorama, BC was disqualified for an undisclosed reason.
Valérie Grenier’s time of 1:15.59 gave St. Isidore, Ont. who came in fourteenth at the Super-G World Cup on Sunday in Tarvisio, Italy.
Robinson’s crash
Alice Robinson, a New Zealand skier who has won two giant slaloms and a super-G this season, crashed in the final gate and hit the ice hard. He retreated and seemed to avoid serious injury but seemed to be shaking.
Fog in the upper part made it difficult for skiers to navigate the Prampero route.
Vonn led Aicher at every checkpoint but lost time in the final gates.
It was Aicher’s fourth win after two falls and a super-G. He is one of the few skaters on the circuit who competes in all four disciplines.
“I’m glad I was able to move forward and not make a single mistake,” said Aicher, who was born in Sweden to a Swedish mother and a German father.
Germany’s Emma Aicher won her first super-g race of the World Cup season on Sunday in Tarvisio, Italy.
Ledecka, the Czech athlete who won Olympic golds in snowboarding and skiing at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games in South Korea, won her first podium of the season.
Romane Miradoli of France finished fourth and Keely Cashman of the United States was fifth for a career-best result.
The women’s circuit remains in Italy in the Kronplatz giant slalom on Tuesday.
There is only one set of speed races before the Olympics, in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, Jan. 30-31.
Also on Sunday, the Italian team announced that defending World Cup champion Federica Brignone is returning to the team for the Kronplatz, her first race since breaking multiple bones in her left leg in April.
The Italian team said Brignone would make a final decision after testing the course on Monday.
Watch the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup women’s action from Tarvisio, Italy.
