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Lindsey Vonn wins bronze in Olympic women's downhill

Posted February. 22, 2018 07:49,   

Updated February. 22, 2018 07:49

한국어

Sixteen years after participating in her first Olympic Games under the name of Lindsey Kildow in high school as an unknown athlete, Lindsey Vonn jumped into the downhill race at what was likely her final Olympic downhill run. She raced for the eagerness of waiting for eight years and her late grandfather, who passed away last November but would eye on her beloved granddaughter from heaven. The records did not seem important to Lindsey Vonn as she passed the finish line. Only a pleasant smile could be seen in the face of the super star, who devoted everything to the ski event with no regrets.

The U.S. skiing star claimed a bronze medal in her final Winter Olympics downhill with 1 minute 39 seconds 69, which is 0.56 later than Sofia Goggia of Italy, who ranked first place. The silver medal went to Ragnhild Mowinckel of Norway, who was 0.09 seconds behind Goggia.

The PyeongChang Winter Olympics was special for the U.S. skiing star as she was the only foreign goodwill ambassador to promote the Pyeongchang Games. Although it was important for Lindsey Vonn to challenge herself for the most wins at the world cup (86 wins of Ingemar Stenmark), she immediately gave up on participating a competition when she did not feel well during this season. She devoted everything into the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Lindsey Vonn prepared a race she could proudly show to her grandfather, who was not able to be with her as he passed away about a hundred days before the Olympic Games. Her grandfather, who participated in the Korean War as a young man, was busy planning to watch his granddaughter’s last Olympic Games before he passed away.

The super star also sent her gratitude to her family members who came to watch her last Olympic Games. “It’s very special to have them here, especially my dad. You know, he wasn’t at the 2010 Olympics. We had some rough times. But he’s here and he’s able to see me win a bronze,” she said. “With my grandfather passing, it’s his father and it makes you realize how short life is. I wanted to make a lot of memories with my family. It was a racing for all my family. My family has sacrificed a lot for me. I wanted to be a good sister and a good aunt today.”

Lindsey Vonn, who finished her major event, downhill, will say her goodbyes to Pyeongchang, which has become an unforgettable place for her, after participating the combined event on Thursday.


Bo-Mi Im bom@donga.com