Lindsey Vonn, Julia Mancuso Claim Olympic Gold, Silver in Women's Downhill

Lindsey Vonn took Olympic gold this afternoon at the close of the previously weather delayed women's downhill event at Whistler Creekside, beating out stiff competition for the title from 45 other competitors.

Vonn, the reigning World Champion in the women's downhill event, narrowly edged fellow American Julia Mancuso, who claimed the Olympic silver medal with a time of 1:44.75 to Vonn's winning 1:44.19. Austria's Elisabeth Gorgl rounded out the top three, taking the bronze with a run that lasted 1:45.65.

Vonn's gold medal is the United States' third of the 2010 Winter Games, after Hannah Kearney won the Women's Moguls competition and Scott Wescott defended his Snowboard Cross title. The two ladies' contributions bring the current overall US Olympic medal count to 10.

Vonn's victory is also special in another way: It marks the first time that a woman from the United States has captured Olympic gold in the event.

Germany's Maria Reich, who was predicted to be Lindsey Vonn's biggest challenger for Olympic gold, faltered and posted a time of 1:46.26, which measured more than 2 seconds behind the winning pace, and left her in 8th place overall.

Stacey Cook, the third member of Team USA, finished a very respectable 11th, while member number 4 Alice McKennis wiped out at the bottom of the hill and finished almost last among those who completed the course. However, she showed great class by getting up and finishing her run anyway, so kudos are heading her way.

Heading into the event, the health of Lindsey Vonn's recently injured shin was questionable, but her performance on the hill today should silence any critics of her decision to take part. The string of delays and cancellations that have plagued the Alpine Skiing events at the Vancouver Games were surely a boon for Vonn, who was able to rehab her leg in time for the event's running.

The 2010 women's downhill podium features an all-new slate of winners, as 2006 Torino Games bronze medalist Anja Paerson of Sweden crashed and did not finish her run, and the gold and silver medalists did not ski in the event.

The women's downhill is set to be featured on tonight's NBC network Olympic coverage, which begins at 8 PM.

Sources

Alpine Olympic Skiing, Ladies' Downhill Results, Vancouver 2010 Website

John Meyer, Vonn get gold in downhill, first American woman winner, Denver Post