American Lindsay Vonn will seek to win her second gold medal in what could be an Olympics downhill swan song for the most successful female World Cup skier of all time.
Vonn already has a gold medal in the Olympic downhill, having won the race in Vancouver back in 2010. However, she missed out on the 2014 games due to injury, and at age 33, it’s probable that she won’t be making another appearance in 2022. Vonn herself pointed out that fact in a tweet about the event.
“Tomorrow I will push out of the starting gate in what will most likely be my last Olympic Downhill race,” Vonn wrote. “I’m trying to enjoy the moment as much as I can and I am thankful to share this race with such amazing teammates.”
Vonn Clear Downhill Favorite
Vonn finished a disappointing sixth in the women’s super-G event, which was won in shocking fashion by Ester Ledecka of the Czech Republic. She also has another chance to medal in the alpine combined event. But the downhill is her bread and butter, and she’ll go into the race as the favorite.
At Bovada, Vonn is a -170 favorite to win the downhill, with most of the rest of the field seen as being far behind the American.
However, one woman is given a real chance of pulling an upset. Sofia Goggia (+320) is the one woman ahead of Vonn in the World Cup standings this season, and will look to bring home gold for Italy.
The pair are well ahead of the rest of the world in this season’s World Cup rankings, but there are a few competitors who have shown signs that they could be in the mix as well. Tina Weirather of Liechtenstein (+1600) is currently ranked third in the world, and has finished as high as second in World Cup downhill races this season.
In the first training session, it was Austria’s Stephanie Venier (+2500) who put up the best time. Venier is ranked ninth in the world, but comes into the Olympics off her best result of the season, finishing fourth in a race at Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany.
Shiffrin Withdraws from Race
One of the top contenders for the podium won’t be competing at all. Mikela Shiffrin has pulled out of the downhill in order to focus instead on the combined event the next day.
Shiffrin, who won the giant slalom event earlier in the Winter Olympics, ran a disappointing 16th in her training runs. She may be avoiding racing on back-to-back days after failing to medal in the slalom the day after her giant slalom victory.
Other contenders include Swiss skiers Michelle Gisin (+1600) and Lara Gut (+2500), as well as American Alice McKennis (+3300). But all of them will be chasing Vonn, who says she will go all out in an effort to bring home her second career gold medal.
“There’s only one thing I can guarantee,” Vonn tweeted. “I will give everything I have tomorrow. Count on it.”