As Lindsey Vonn falls short in super-G, snowboarder surprises with gold in second sport

BUKPYEONG, South Korea — Way back in 2010, Lindsey Vonn felt she’d figured out the Olympics. It was her third Winter Games, and she was certain she’d finally solved the puzzle. Not only did Vonn win gold and bronze medals in Vancouver, but she’d learned how to juggle the pressures, the logistics and the intangibles inherent to her sport. Injuries kept her from competing in 2014, and she had to wait a full eight years to apply those lessons.

But the Alpine courses are all different, and in her first race of these PyeongChang Olympics, the 33-year-old Vonn — one of the most decorated female Alpine skiers the sport has known — was bested by a late turn and a surprising, versatile young Czech, a racer better known for her snowboard skills, in Saturday’s super-G event. Despite an otherwise medal-worthy race, her mistake proved costly, and Vonn opened her Olympics with disappointment, tied for sixth place in a race that was unpredictable in just about every way possible.

“I gave it everything I had,” Vonn said. “I left it all on the hill, which I knew I would. Just made one mistake. And that cost me a medal.”

Source :- washingtonpost