Riesch takes super-combi gold, Vonn falls

Last Updated: Thursday, February 18, 2010 | 1:47 PM ET

CBC Sports

Olympic downhill champion Lindsey Vonn of the U.S. was ahead of friendly rival Maria Riesch's time at the first interval of the slalom portion of the super-combined, but missed a gate and fell, helping the German to Olympic gold on Thursday.

Riesch's aggregate time in the downhill and slalom at Whistler Creekside was two minutes 9.14 seconds.

Maria Riesch of Germany celebrates after her slalom run in the super-combined on Thursday in Whistler, B.C. (Geno Breloer/Associated Press)

Vonn led after the downhill portion in a time of one minute 24.16 seconds, just ahead of Riesch.

She's been bothered by a shin injury, which has limited her practice time, but she didn't use it as an excuse.

"The shin wasn't the reason why I didn't finish the race," Vonn said. "It was just because I hooked a tip, and that happens in ski racing all the time. I just wish it wasn't at the Olympic Games."

American Julia Mancuso continued to enhance her reputation as a clutch skier, winning silver in 2:10.08.

Mancuso, who has four career World Cup wins, now has three Olympic medals. She won gold in the giant slalom in the Torino Games, and took silver behind Vonn in Wednesday's downhill.

Sweden's Anja Paerson continued the great storylines among the podium finishers, earning bronze for her sixth career Olympic medal.

Shona Rubens of Canmore, Alta., was 12th. Rubens was 3.44 seconds behind the pace, moving up two spots from her position after the downhill portion.

"It's really exciting," said Rubens. "It was a little tough in the downhill, but I think I had a pretty solid slalom run. I'm happy with my day."

Emily Brydon of Fernie, B.C., is stronger in the downhill and fell two spots to 16th.

"When I fail, it's not only I fail myself, but I fail the people," said Brydon, who hoped to ski better in Wednesday's downhill in what is likely her final season.

Paerson has one gold, one silver and four bronze in her Olympic career, tying Janica Kostelic of Croatia for most ever for a female skier.

Paerson had crashed spectacularly in Wednesday's downhill after catching too much air on a jump and was just seventh after the downhill portion of the super-combined.

She slid ecstatically on the snow after Vonn's mishap, which guaranteed the Swede a medal.

Zahrobska fastest in slalom

Her exuberance was only exceeded by Mancuso, who fell to the ground in jubilation after her slalom run, kicking her skis in the air.

Part of the reason for Mancuso's lack of consistency on the World Cup circuit has been injuries. She most recently endured back problems.

"It's been a long journey, coming off my back injury," Mancuso said. "I didn't see the podium anywhere near me. But I believed that I could ski fast. Coming into these races, it was all or nothing. … Everything has been working really well."

Mancuso led, but Riesch was next and her run was characteristic of someone who leads the World Cup standings in the slalom. She was also perhaps motivated by a disappointing eighth in the downhill.

"I was really nervous. That was the problem for the downhill," said Riesch. "Today I was much more calm, more confident."

Lindsey Vonn of the U.S. sits dejectedly after her slalom run in the women's super-combined. (Alessandro Trovati/Associated Press)

Vonn, who battled a shin injury heading into the Games, followed. She clipped a gate with her ski and then veered off course before falling in a mild crash.

She stayed down for a while but appeared more disappointed than anything.

"It hurts so bad," Vonn said afterward. "It's one thing to do the downhill, but the super-combined is really tough on my shin. I tried as hard as I could."

Riesch's celebration was a bit more muted than that of her fellow podium finishers, clearly disappointed for her friend Vonn.

Austria's Elisabeth Goergl, the bronze-medal winner in the downhill this week, fell from eighth to 18th after getting tangled up near a gate in the slalom run.

Sarka Zahrobska of the Czech Republic, 2007 world champion in the slalom, had the top time in the second run at 43.69 seconds. She vaulted from 22nd to seventh as a result.

The next women's ski event is the super-G, scheduled for Saturday.