Lindsey Vonn isn't finished yet
Decorated skier competing has another shot at the podium in the combined event
By Wendy-Ann Clarke, CBC Sports
American ski star Lindsey Vonn finished the women's downhill competition in Pyeongchang with a bronze medal around her neck and her emotions on her sleeve.
The tearful 33-year-old took the podium on Day 12 alongside her friend and gold medallist Sofia Goccia of Italy, and Silver medallist Ragnhild Mowinckel of Norway.
SMILES. TEARS. FRIENDSHIP. RESPECT.<br><br>Sofia Goccia becomes 1st <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ITA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ITA</a> woman to win downhill GOLD đ„<br>SILVER - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NOR?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NOR</a> Ragnhild Mowinckel đ„<br>BRONZE- <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a> 's <a href="https://twitter.com/lindseyvonn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LindseyVonn</a> đ„<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Alpineskiing?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Alpineskiing</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PyeongChang2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PyeongChang2018</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UpWithCBC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UpWithCBC</a> <a href="https://t.co/pIq10Fjf3X">pic.twitter.com/pIq10Fjf3X</a>
—@CBCOlympicsWith a storied career marked by almost as much success as injury, the American made history becoming the oldest alpine women's medallist of all time. Competing in what she says will be her final Olympic Games, Vonn is currently sitting in first place in the combined event which could put her on the podium a second time at these Games.Â
And apparently Iâm the oldest female alpine Olympic medalist đ€·đŒââïž kinda cool! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/oldbutstillhip?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#oldbutstillhip</a> đ<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/illtakeit?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#illtakeit</a>
—@lindseyvonnAfter winning the downhill in Vancouver 2010, Vonn was forced to sit out of the 2014 Sochi Games due to knee trouble. With all the physical ups and downs of the past eight years, for her, being back on the podium in South Korea is "as good as gold." Â
Today I won a bronze medal that felt like gold. It was an amazing day that I will never forget. Thank you to everyone who supported me and helped me get to this point. Love you all â€ïžđđ»
—@lindseyvonnGoing head to head with American teammate Mikaela Shiffrin in the combined; which consists of one run of downhill, followed by one run of slalom, she looked in incredible form, bettering her bronze medal winning downhill time by more than three tenths of a second. She will run the slalom portion on Thursday at 1:00 a.m. ET.Â
With emotions running high on Wednesday, she savoured her bronze medal performance as if it were the last of her career.
"I'm on the Olympic podium for probably the last time and I'm so grateful," the tearful Vonn told CBC in an interview in Pyeongchang. "I've had so many injuries and everyone counted me out. Everyone said I was washed up and I should just quit. I didn't ... It just proves that you can never give up."
<a href="https://twitter.com/lindseyvonn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LindseyVonn</a> just became the oldest woman in history to win an Olympic medal in alpine skiing.<br><br>She's also a bit of a charmer â€ïžđ<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PyeongChang2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PyeongChang2018</a> <a href="https://t.co/EWGkm41dK6">pic.twitter.com/EWGkm41dK6</a>
—@CBCOlympicsVonn has also carried with her the memory of who she says was her greatest fan and supporterâ Her grandfather, who passed away in November.
Widely regarded as the greatest women's alpine skier in history, Vonn has a record 81 World Cup victories. She is expected to continue to pursue the all-time record of 86 wins held by Ingemar Stenmark of Sweden.Â