Vonn takes control in Alpine combined
PYEONGCHANG, South Korea – Lindsey Vonn said she had an “outside chance” in the women’s combined after she led following the downhill leg of the competition on Thursday. The American held a 0.74 second advantage over closest rival Ragnhild Mowinckel of Norway with pre-race favorite Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States nearly two seconds back.
Vonn (bronze) and Mowinckel (silver) both made the podium in the women’s downhill on Wednesday behind gold-medal winner Sofia Goggia, who did not take part in the combined.
Meanwhile, David Wise of the US retained his ski halfpipe Olympic title with a scintillating final run on Thursday.
After two mediocre efforts, Wise got it right at the third time of asking, scoring 97.20 in the final round to push compatriot Alex Ferreira (96.40) into second place.
Sixteen-year-old New Zealander Nico Porteous claimed the bronze medal with a score of 94.80.
Ferreira, who scored more than 90 points in all three runs, led going into the final round but Wise, who had failed to go clean on his first two attempts, delivered four double corks to match the gold he won when the event made its debut in Sochi.
Back in the women’s combined, for the 33-year-old Vonn, who after winning gold in downhill and bronze in super-G in Vancouver in 2010 is seeking a fourth career Olympic medal, the time gives her hope despite not being a regular competitor in slalom.
“I‘m the underdog here, I think Mikaela is the favorite and I‘m just the old lady trying to hang on for a medal,” Vonn told reporters.
“I‘m not expecting anything and I think that’s what gives me an outside chance,” she said.