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The Milan Cortina Olympic Winter Games are really close now, and U.S. athletes continue to shine in winter-sport World Cup events, but with the schedule thinning as the Games approach.
Over the weekend, American athletes won nine more medals (one gold) in international competition:
Alpine Skiing: FIS World Cup in Tarvisio (ITA):
● Women/Downhill ~ Bronze: Lindsey Vonn
● Women/Super-G ~ Silver: Lindsey Vonn
Said Vonn after her Downhill bronze:
“It’s crazy that I’m back here after 15 years. Unfortunately I don’t remember the track from 15 years ago! …
“But I do remember the fans and I do remember the atmosphere. It’s so fun to race when there’s so many excited people and fans. It makes racing World Cup that much more exciting.
“It was actually really tough and I tried not to have too much expectation because I knew these other girls were going to be fast. The snow was really soft, it was really hard to see in the middle and I made a pretty big mistake but I’m happy to be on the podium again.
“For me what’s important is to be consistent and I’m really happy that I could do that despite the conditions.”
After the Super-G bronze, Vonn has seven medals in her eight races this season … at age 41! She added:
“If I can fight for the [FIS Crystal] Globe in Super-G as well, that would be amazing. I obviously feel really confident in Downhill, but Super-G could be a little better, so today was a good step in the right direction and it gives me confidence for Milano Cortina.”
Bobsled & Skeleton: IBSF World Cup in Altenberg (GER):
● Women/Monobob ~ Gold: Kaillie Armbruster Humphries
● Two-Woman ~ Silver: Humphries and Jasmine Jones
After her Monobob win, Armbruster Humphries, 40, said, “I’m really happy with today.
“My drives were good, and we’re still working on getting my pushes faster at the start. I think that’s just coming back post-partum, taking it step-by-step. The goal was always to build each and every race throughout this year up until the Olympics, and I think we’ve been pretty successful at that, so to be able to win at Monobob again is a really good feeling. We still have a lot of work to do, but overall, it continues to be steps in the right direction, which is great. …
“Age is just a number; it does not define us or limit us in anything.”
Freestyle Skiing: FIS World Cup in Waterville Valley. New Hampshire:
● Women/Moguls ~ Silver: Elizabeth Lemley
● Women/Moguls ~ Bronze: Olivia Giaccio
Freestyle Skiing: FIS World Cup in Laax (SUI):
● Women/Slopestyle ~ Silver: Marin Hamill
Snowboard: FIS World Cup in Laax (SUI):
● Women/Slopestyle ~ Silver: Lily Dhawornvej
Snowboard: FIS World Cup in Dongbeiya (CHN):
● Men/SnowCross ~ Bronze: Nathan Pare
Vonn and Armbruster Humphries appear to be peaking at the right time. Many of the winter sport schedules have concluded, with Short Track and speed skating over for now, one more event for figure skating and bobsled and skeleton are done for the season. Skiing will continue.
The Winter Games will open on 6 February.
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