Vonn stays strong in teary farewell
WINTER OLYMPICS2018
LINDSEY Vonn blinked into the flashbulbs and blinked back the tears.
She had said she would turn down a trip to the White House if she won Olympic gold. Now she does not have to worry about the invitation after finishing third in the women’s downhill.
But the American hit out at bullies who targeted her after she made comments that were critical of President Trump and insisted she would not change her views.
“For all the people that say bad things, there are 10 more that say nice things,” she said, as Italy’s Sofia Goggia took gold. “If you think about what I’ve been through to get here, I gave it my all and to come away with a medal is a dream come true.
“You’ve got to put things into perspective. Of course, I’d have loved a gold medal but, honestly, this is amazing and I’m so proud.”
Vonn has been battling with her emotions since arriving in South Korea, appearing to teeter on the edge of a breakdown in almost every interview.
She was moved to tears when discussing the memory of her late grandfather, her ski-racing inspiration, who died in November and whose initials she wears on her helmet.
And the tears flowed again as the enormity of the occasion hit home – her final Olympic downhill race.
Vonn was attempting to become only the second skier after Germany’s Katja Seizinger to win two women’s Olympic titles in skiing’s blue-riband event.
After winning gold in Vancouver in 2010 – where she also took super-G bronze – she missed Sochi because of a knee injury and struggled for much of last season after breaking her arm and suffering nerve damage in her hand.
“I’m going to miss the Olympics and that’s why I’m so emotional,” she said.
“I just wish my body didn’t hurt as bad as it does. It’s sad, I love what I do, but my body just probably can’t take another four years. I’m just counting on some medical miracles to extend my career a bit longer.
“It was tough to contemplate this being my last Olympic downhill race. It has been really hard for me not to get emotional for many reasons – especially because of my grandfather. I wanted to win so much because of him, but I still think made him proud.”