Lindsey Vonn Wins Gold in Downhill Skiing: a First for America!

Linsey Vonn, age 25, from Vail, Colorado, wowed the world today with her forceful run on the downhill slope to win her first Olympic medal. She completed the run in 1 minute 44.19 seconds. Vonn's win was the first gold medal in downhill skiing for an American woman. Vonn will now go on to compete in four more events at this Olympics in Vancouver.

Her teammate, Julia Mancuso, also age 25, won second place. These two skiers have different styles and different attitudes; they both made America proud today.

Lindsey Vonn is coached by her husband, Thomas Vonn. The NY Times reports that before she began her race downhill he told her "Jules had a great run; she's in first by almost a second."

Vonn entered the race with a painful shin injury she received in Austria on February 2. Despite her pain, she attacked the course. She got unsteady near the end of her run when she hit the course again after going airborne at the Hot Air jump. This win must feel extra sweet, knowing that she came so close to wiping out right near the end of the competition.

Winning the race sent Vonn into a highly emotional state. She cried for a bit after learning she would receive the gold medal. She told ESPN "A huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders now. I got the gold medal that I came here to get. And now I'm just going to attack every day, with no regrets and no fear."

Vonn is a fierce skier. Now, with a gold medal achievement to her credit it will be fun to watch where her determination takes her for the rest of the games. She has a fighting spirit and a relentless bravery on the slopes.

Vonn and Mancuso are showing the world the fighting spirit of the American female athletes. For Americans, their achievements at the Olympics reinforce the value of the fight for women to obtain equal opportunity in sports via the Title IX 35 years ago.

American girls now grow up knowing they can play any sport they want and compete fiercely to make their athletic dreams come true. Our playing fields and our Olympics allow female athletes to show their glory and win their medals.

America says "thanks" to Lindsey Vonn and Julia Mancuso. You have true American spirit. Your power and your joy are breathtaking to watch.

Sources:

http://sports.espn.go.com/olympics/winter/2010/alpineskiing/news/story?id=4921825
(ESPN)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/18/sports/olympics/18downhill.html?hp (NY Times)