Ladies' Super-G--Austrian Fischbacher Snatches Gold, Slovene Maze Grabs Silver and Vonn Seizes Bronze

The top European contenders in Ladies' Alpine Skiing, Austrian Andrea Fischbacher and Slovene Tina Maze snatched gold and silver in Super-G today, Lindsey Vonn won bronze.

The golden Lindsey Vonn had to settle for bronze having been outrun by Fischbacher and Maze. Fischbacher who was near tears after she had finished fourth in downhill hoped she would be better in super-G. She realized her goal today winning super-G gold medal, the first gold for Austria in Alpine skiing at these 2010 Olympic Games.

With her super-G gold medal, Fischbacher saved her country from the unfortunate Alpine skiing debacle after the disastrous Olympic runs of Austrian men in downhill and super-G. In 2006 Olympic Games, Austria had won 14 medals, however in 2010 Olympics, Fischbacher's gold is the second medal in Alpine skiing for Austria, the first being Elisabeth Goergl's bronze in downhill.

Maze, at the same token, brought with her super-G silver medal new optimism to Slovene Olympic team after the tragic injury of cross country skier Petra Majdic during the training earlier in the week and after Slovenia filed official protest with International Olympic Committee (IOC), VANOC and FIS about the unsafe conditions of the course on which Majdic was training and from which she fell into the ditch and fractured four ribs.

With six World Cup Giant Slalom wins and one World Cup downhill win, Tina Maze, a silver super-G Vancouver Olympic medallist, has been ranked third in World Cup Giant Slalom in 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 seasons. At these Olympic Games, she has also finished 18th in Ladies' Downhill and 10th in Ladies' Super Combined.

Nominated for the Slovene woman of the year, the 27-year old Maze with a nick name Tinky won her first World Cup in 2002. On her website, Tina Maze writes about the enormous risks the Alpine skiers are taking on the World Cup circuit throwing themselves head down into the ravines to realize their dreams.

Many Alpine skiers would agree with Maze. At the daredevil speeds at which they are racing down the mountain, it is just about impossible to forecast anything. Even the tiniest of the slips can push the skier out of the medal contention. Victories can not be guaranteed. The surprises and upsets are common. One small too icy spot and the skier is off the course.

The sport is unpredictable and dangerous. Experience helps, yet it is far from being a sure bet. You have to go for it. Every now and then you fall, every so often you win. Lindsey Vonn understands that, so do Fischbacher and Maze and other top international contenders.

There is no doubt that being an Olympic medal favorite in Alpine skiing is a tough spot to be in. Vonn, with her second Olympic medal in this 2010 super-G, made America proud. She did what America has been asking her to do-she won medals.